Advocates to March for RH Law

Layout by Alvin Cloyd Dakis

March 28, Manila – Together with women from all walks of life, government officials, civil society partners, young people, and celebrity supporters, SRHR advocates will march to urge the Supreme Court Justices to uphold the Reproductive Health Law. Prominent among these groups are the International Youth Council (IYC) Pilipinas, the Philippine Society for Sexual and Reproductive Health Nurses, the Health Youth Policy Empowerment, the Humanist Association of the Philippines, International (HAPI), and the Philippine Health Bloggers Society. 

The march will commence at Anda Circle, pass the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines’ office in Intramuros, before proceeding to the Supreme Court in Padre Faura, and lastly to Plaza Salamanca in Taft. The march will begin at 2PM. Attendees of the march are encouraged to wear purple shirts or accessories.

“It is only humane to support the RH Law. As a humanist group, we believe that the law is scientifically sound and is geared toward human progress, poverty alleviation, and health improvement,” HAPI president Alvin Dakis said.

The RH Law, which has gone through more than 14 years of debate in both upper and lower house and has been defended both in the streets and cyberspace, was signed into a law in December 21, 2012. However, the Supreme Court placed the law under Status Quo Ante after several groups, majority with religious in nature, filed petitions questioning its constitutionality. The Supreme Court is expected to give its decision by April.

"We believe that the law is not merely constitutional - it is just and essential. Mothers are dying, young girls are getting pregnant, and the HIV is wrecking havoc in our society as we speak," PHBS president Janina Santos emphasized. "PHBS believes in advocating for health online, but we are willing to bring our fight in real life when the situation calls for it. This is that situation."

“It is more than high time to have this piece of legislation permanently put into practice. People deserve informed choice,” maintained Aljohn De Leon, HAPI Deputy Secretary.