Right to protection and services vs early pregnancies a human rights concern—youth group

 

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