UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 11) As of December 2016, CCT provided 4.39-million eligible poor household beneficiaries with health and education cash grants, conditional to the children’s attendance in school and receipt of regular immunization, the mothers’ availment of health care services, and the beneficiary’s attendance to family development sessions. Under the 2017 budget, CCT beneficiary-families are provided a rice allowance

Para 28) Our government budget supports the Department of Health (DOH) in deploying health professionals to the barrios, expanding the immunization program for children, and strengthening the efforts to lower maternal and infant mortality rates, among others. As of June 2016, the National Health Insurance Program covers 92.62 million principal members and dependents.

Para 29) The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Act of 2012 empowers DOH and local government units to ensure that reproductive health becomes universally accessible. To ensure availability of supplies and the training of providers in new contraceptive technologies, DOH has convened the National Implementation Team for the RPRH law.

Para 65) The DOH executed the first “full” implementation of the RPRH Law in 2015 and appropriated PhP 21.74 billion, almost double the budget in the previous year, to support the implementation of various RPRH programs, like the Family Planning Program and the National Safe Motherhood Program.

Para 66) Through RPRH Law, 80% of total live births were covered by DOH facilities. Maternal mortality ratio went down from 221 deaths per 100,000 deliveries in 2011 to 114 per 100,000 deliveries in 2015.

Para 67) In 2016, GPH hit its target of ensuring that 90% of pregnant women were attended to by a skilled health professional. Contraceptive use in the country increased since 2012, with the Contraceptive Prevalence Rate at 33.26% increasing to 46.87% in 2015. Moreover, women’s life expectancy also increased from 72.9 years in 2016 to 74.3 years in 2017.

Para 68) In spite of the two-year temporary restraining order limiting the full implementation of RPRH Law, President Duterte signed EO No. 12 on 9 January 2017 for the purpose of “Attaining and Sustaining Zero Unmet Need for Modern Family Planning Through the Strict Implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act.” The EO provides funds from government sources and encourages support from the private sector.

UN Compilation:
Para 65) There had been hardly any change in the maternal mortality rate over the previous three decades.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 7) CHRP stated that the law on reproductive health had not being uniformly implemented and expressed alarm at the withdrawal of contraceptives in the City of Sirosogon. Furthermore, there had been challenges in the delivery of reproductive health services due to religious and cultural resistance.

Para 24) JS4 stated that the Reproductive Health Law and its corresponding programmes did not cater for the reproductive health needs of lesbian, transgender and intersex persons, who experienced discrimination due to the non-recognition of same-sex partnerships.

Para 93) AI referred to relevant supported recommendations, and stated that the Philippines had taken positive steps, including adopting the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act, the Domestic Workers Act and the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. However, the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act had suffered from inconsistent implementation across the country, and there was no mechanism to monitor the implementation of the Act

Para 94) AI stated that repealing the provisions of the the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act which the Supreme Court had ruled to be unconstitutional, would be inconsistent with the international obligations of the Philippines, including Article 12 of CEDAW and Article 12 of ICESCR. JS20 stated that the Act required the consent of male spouses in order for women to access reproductive health procedures and prohibited minors from availing of modern methods of family planning without parental consent, both of which defeated the purpose of addressing teenage pregnancy and empowering women to uphold their sexual and reproductive health rights.

Para 96) JS7 stated that despite legislative guarantees of contraceptive information and services, there were two executive orders in Manila which banned modern contraceptives in all public health care facilities.

Para 130) JS20 stated that indigenous women had been adversely affected by the “No Home Birthing Policy” as they had no access to birthing facilities.

National Report:
Para 29) The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Act of 2012 empowers DOH and local government units to ensure that reproductive health becomes universally accessible. To ensure availability of supplies and the training of providers in new contraceptive technologies, DOH has convened the National Implementation Team for the RPRH law.

Para 65) The DOH executed the first “full” implementation of the RPRH Law in 2015 and appropriated PhP 21.74 billion, almost double the budget in the previous year, to support the implementation of various RPRH programs, like the Family Planning Program and the National Safe Motherhood Program.

National Report:
Para 25) In 2008-2011, human rights protection became more systemic, planned and strategic in Police operations. A network of plenipotentiaries for human rights began their work under the motto "Human beings come first". Police recruitment system was also changed. The examination of a candidate's hypothetical reactions in interaction with another person became more thorough. In addition, unprecedented workshops were organized for middle- level management under the heading "Human Rights in Police Management". A guide for Police trainers was developed under the title "To Protect and to Serve: How to Foster the Right Attitudes and Behaviours During Primary Professional Training". The Police continues to provide training courses to officers on prevention and combating hate crimes. Representatives of national, ethnic, religious and sexual minorities educate policemen as part of different projects. The Polish Police also cooperates with other European police forces in developing common anti-discrimination strategies. One example of such cooperation is the European Diversity in Policing project.

Para 26) In addition, the Early Intervention System was launched in the Police force, to deal rapidly and effectively with improper behaviour of Police officers.

Para 27) In the Act of 20 May 2010, amending the act- Criminal Code, the Act on Police, the act Regulations introducing the Criminal Code and the act on the Criminal procedure code a definition of human trafficking (with an open catalogue of different forms of human trafficking), based on the definitions formulated in international agreements (including the Palermo Protocol) was introduced.

Para 97) On 25 November, 2010, the Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment announced the creation of an inter-ministry and inter-sector action platform against sexual violence in Poland: "Stop Sexual Violence in Poland". One of the Platform's outcomes is the Procedures of Police and Medical Institution Conduct towards Victims of Sexual Violence.

Para 98) Poland and Spain jointly initiated legislative work on the Directive on European Protection Order. The initiative is meant to enhance the protection of victims against attempts of repeated actions on the part of persons who pose a threat in the event they relocate to another EU Member State to follow their victims. Protection measures are meant to safeguard the victim against offenders who could pose a threat to her life, physical and mental integrity, as well as personal and sexual freedom.

Para 129) Examples of the Plenipotentiary's structural, educational and promotional activities include:... Analyzing newly authorised school textbooks from the point of view of criteria of compliance with the principle of equal treatment regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, nationality, religions, faith, political opinions, age, sexual orientation, marital and family status ...

UN Compilation:
Para 22) HR Committee expressed its concern about: the continued problem of domestic violence; the high percentage of dismissals of domestic violence cases at the prosecution level; lengthy prosecution procedures; and an insufficient number of support centres for victims of domestic violence. It also noted that, although the law provides for restraining orders against perpetrators, police officers do not have the authority to issue immediate restraining orders at the scene of an alleged crime. Poland should amend the Law on Domestic Violence to empower police officers to issue immediate restraining orders at the scene.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 19) JS5 indicated that the 2010 Act on Prevention of the Domestic Violence did not provide better protection for victims of domestic violence and did not contain more effective regulation of punishment offenders.