Should abortion be legalized in the Philippines?
Legalizing abortion in the Philippines is necessary to protect the reproductive health
and rights of women, reduce maternal mortality rates, and address the issue of unsafe
abortions, which disproportionately affect poor and marginalized communities, ultimately
promoting gender equality and social justice. Abortion is a highly controversial and sensitive
issue around the world, and the Philippines is no exception. The country has some of the
strictest abortion laws in the world, criminalizing the procedure in almost all circumstances,
except to save the life of the mother.
Legalization of abortion will provide women with a concrete solution to unplanned
pregnancies and protects their civil rights . The criminalization of abortion in the Philippines
has led to unsafe and illegal procedures, putting the health and lives of women at risk.
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 610,000 induced abortions were
performed in the country in 2012, with a significant proportion being done in unsafe and
unregulated settings. The lack of access to safe and legal abortion services is a violation of
women's reproductive health and rights, denying them the ability to make decisions about
their own bodies and putting their health and lives at risk. Legalizing abortion would provide
women with access to safe and regulated medical procedures, protecting their health and well-
being. Legalizing abortion in the Philippines is necessary to protect the reproductive health
and rights of women. Women have the right to make decisions about their own bodies and
their reproductive health, and denying them access to safe and legal abortion services infringes
upon these rights.
Legalizing abortion protects women's rights. Moreover, the criminalization of abortion
disproportionately affects poor and marginalized communities. This is a matter of social
justice, as access to safe and legal abortion services should not be determined by one's financial
status. Legalizing abortion would ensure that all women, regardless of their socio-economic
status, have access to safe and affordable medical procedures. The criminalization of abortion
disproportionately affects poor and marginalized women, who often lack access to safe and
affordable healthcare.
Women have full control over their bodies, meaning what they do with them is their
decision Legalizing abortion is essential to reduce maternal mortality rates in the Philippines.
According to the Department of Health, an estimated 1,000 women die each year due to
complications from unsafe abortions. These deaths are preventable, and legalizing abortion
would reduce the number of unsafe procedures and provide women with access to safe and
regulated medical care, ultimately saving lives. The reduction of maternal mortality rates is an
important goal for the country, and legalizing abortion is a necessary step towards achieving it.
While the legalization of abortion in the Philippines is a contentious issue, it is
important to consider the ethical and moral implications of such a decision. Some argue that
legalizing abortion would promote reproductive health and rights, reduce maternal mortality
rates, and promote social justice, but others contend that it is a violation of the sanctity of life
and a slippery slope towards further devaluing human life. Legalizing abortion may promote
reproductive health and rights, but it may also promote a culture of promiscuity and
irresponsibility. By allowing women to terminate pregnancies, without any consequences or
accountability, it sends the message that sexual behavior can be casual and that there are no
lasting consequences. This may lead to an increase in promiscuity and a decrease in personal
responsibility, which could have negative societal consequences. While the reduction of
maternal mortality rates is a noble goal, legalizing abortion is not the only solution. Instead,
efforts should be focused on improving access to quality healthcare, including prenatal care,
family planning, and maternal health services.. Legalizing abortion is a violation of the sanctity
of life and a slippery slope towards further devaluing human life. If we accept that it is
acceptable to terminate a pregnancy, where do we draw the line? Should we allow for
infanticide or euthanasia? The value of human life should not be diminished, and every effort
should be made to protect the rights of the unborn.
Legalizing abortion in the Philippines is necessary to protect the reproductive health
and rights of women, reduce maternal mortality rates, and promote social justice. The
criminalization of abortion has not stopped women from seeking it, but rather has forced them
to resort to unsafe and illegal means, endangering their lives. Legalizing abortion would ensure
that women have access to safe and regulated medical procedures, protecting their health and
well-being, and ultimately saving lives. Moreover, it would promote gender equality, as it
would provide women with the same reproductive rights and choices as men. The reduction of
maternal mortality rates and the promotion of social justice are important goals, and legalizing
abortion is a step towards achieving them in the Philippines. While there are valid concerns
about the morality of abortion, it is important to prioritize the health and well-being of women,
and legalizing abortion is a necessary step towards achieving this goal.
Reference List
Republic Act No. 10354 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012,
Guttmacher Institute. (2018). Induced Abortion Worldwide. Retrieved from
https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/induced-abortion-worldwide
United Nations Population Fund (2019). State of World Population 2019: Unfinished Business
- the Pursuit of Rights and Choices for All. Retrieved from
https://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-
pdfUNFPA_PUB_2019_EN_State_of_World_Population.pdf
World Health Organization (2012). Safe abortion: technical and policy guidance for health
systems. Retrieved from
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle10665/70914/9789241548434eng.pdf;jsessionid
=5D17A9F9B9A9E8A7A0E6C0A7D1F2E8F7?sequence=1
Philippine Statistics Authority. (2020). Statistics on Women and Men in the Philippines.
Retrieved from https://psa.gov.ph/content/statistics-women-and-men-philippines,
United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development. Retrieved from
https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E
