On December 10, Human Rights Day, a youth
group called on the Senate to prioritize the passage of the Teen Pregnancy
Prevention (TPP) o PAP bill. “Krusyal ang passage ng TPP bill para kamtin ng
kabataan ang kanilang karapatan sa reproduktibong kalusugan at sekwalidad. Reproductive
rights are human rights,” stated Crisahle Pavillon, spokesperson of PM
Kabataan.
The issue of early pregnancy has long
been a concern for Filipino youth, especially those aged 10-19 years. According
to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2021, 10 percent of the
total number of births in the country were from young mothers. Despite existing
programs aimed at reducing this incidence, the numbers of early pregnancies
remain high, significantly impacting the youth in terms of their health,
education, future, as well as the economy and society.
“It is clear that early pregnancy
poses severe challenges. Many young mothers are forced to stop their education
due to the discrimination they face—not only in schools but also on social
media and even from healthcare workers. Furthermore, early pregnancies pose
health risks to these young individuals, including complications during
pregnancy, repeat pregnancies, and lack of access to affordable and humane
health services. There is also a lack of knowledge regarding sexuality,
reproductive health, and the concept of consent, which puts the youth at risk
of abusive relationships and coercive sexual encounters. In fact, most cases of
adolescent pregnancy are a result of statutory rape—clearly a form of violence
against children,” said
Pavillon.
She added that “Thus, this issue is
not merely due to young people's flirtations or impulsiveness but is a social
issue that requires collective action from families, schools, the government,
and the entire community. The teen pregnancy prevention bill aims to protect
the youth against early pregnancy and ensure that adequate support is provided
for young parents.”
Some key objectives of this bill
include:
1.
Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE): This educates individuals about
sexuality, reproductive health, consent, and respect for the body in a way that
is age- and culturally appropriate. It aims to guide the youth to avoid early
pregnancies by providing them with formal and accurate information regarding
sex and their sexuality.
2.
Social Protection Services: This includes maternal health services, home-based
schooling, PhilHealth coverage, counseling, and other services that can help
young parents recover and address the stigma or discrimination they face.
3.
Access to Reproductive Health Services: The TPP Bill ensures that youth aged
16-18 will have direct access to information and health services, along with
guidance from health workers.
Currently, the TPP Bill has
garnered sufficient support but still needs to be prioritized in the agenda to
complete the interpellation process and proceed to a vote in the Senate.
However, with the turn of political events in the country, the youth’s demand
for its passage has been ignored.
“We are running out of time. Nevertheless, we will not stop. We will remain steadfast in our call for the passage of this bill. To the youth, especially girls and young women, let us collectively advocate for a humane, safe, and just society. Let’s support the TPP Bill—a gift of unity and responsibility for the future of girls and young women!” Pavillon ended.
December 10, 2024
Partido Manggagawa Kabataan
