PHILIPPINES-ABORTION-TBs-CCPR

Concluding Observations on Report 5 (2022) (Link)

Voluntary termination of pregnancy and reproductive rights

21. The Committee takes note of the State party’s efforts to reduce unsafe abortion and maternal mortality, including by conducting maternal death reviews and integrating family planning into other health programmes. Nevertheless, it reiterates its previous concern that abortion remains criminalized in the State party, which leads women to seek clandestine abortion services that endanger their lives and health. It is concerned by reports of harassment of women and girls who have or seek abortions and of routine interrogation and recording by hospital staff of those who seek post-abortion health care. It notes with concern information about the insufficient number of primary health-care facilities and the significant increase in indirect obstetric deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, owing in part to the lack of health- care capacity. It also notes with concern the high number of unintended pregnancies, especially among adolescent girls (arts. 2, 3, 6 and 17).

22. Bearing in mind the Committee’s previous recommendations and paragraph 8 of the Committee’s general comment No. 36 (2018) on the right to life, the State party should:

(a) Amend its legislation to guarantee safe, legal and effective access to abortion where the life and health of the pregnant woman or girl is at risk, or where carrying a pregnancy to term would cause the pregnant woman or girl substantial pain or suffering, most notably where the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest or where the pregnancy is not viable;

(b) Repeal the criminal penalties imposed upon women and girls who undergo abortions and upon medical service providers who help them to do so;

(c) Strengthen the provision of sexual and reproductive health services, including post-abortion health care in all circumstances, on a confidential basis, in particular for rural women, women living in poverty, women with disabilities and women from ethnic or religious minorities;

(d) Further develop and implement comprehensive programmes, throughout the country, on sexual and reproductive health education, including with a view to preventing unintended pregnancies and the stigmatization of women and girls who have recourse to abortion, and on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections.

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Concluding Observations on Report 4 (2012) (Link)

13. The Committee regrets the absolute ban on abortions, which compels pregnant women to seek clandestine and harmful abortion services, and accounts for a significant number of maternal deaths. The Committee also regrets the issuance of Executive Order 0030 in Manila City which prohibits the disbursement of funds for the purchase of materials and medicines for artificial birth control (arts. 2, 3, 6 and 17).

The State party should review its legislation with a view to making provision for exceptions to the prohibition of abortion, such as protection of life or health of the mother, and pregnancy resulting from rape or incest, in order to prevent women from having to seek clandestine harmful abortions. The State party should also ensure that reproductive health services are accessible for all women and adolescents. In this regard, the State party should lift Executive Order 0030 for Manila city in so far as it prohibits the disbursement of funds for the purchase of materials and medicines for artificial birth control. Furthermore, the State party should increase education and awareness-raising programmes, both formal (at schools and colleges) and informal (in the mass media), on the significance of using contraceptives and the right to reproductive health.

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Concluding Observations on Report 2-3 (2003) (Link)

[no mention]

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Concluding Observations on Report 1 (1989) (Link)

[no mention]

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