We, as a community and civil society organizations working on women’s rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all, urge legislators to junk House Bill No. 8354, An Act amending the Penal Code, Article 259 on Abortion, introduced by Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. and pending before the House Committee on Revision of Laws. The bill proposes to impose the additional penalty of perpetual loss of license to practice profession on physicians, midwives, nurses, or any other health worker who, using their scientific knowledge or skill, cause or assist in causing an abortion. The bill also adds a definition of abortives and abortive devices. This bill blatantly discriminates against all pregnant persons whose lives and health are at stake due to lack of access to safe abortion and all health care providers who are faithfully fulfilling their sworn duty to save the lives of these pregnant persons. (Read the full bill at https://www.congress.gov.ph/
This bill when passed into law can save women’s lives. This bill to decriminalize induced abortion will save the lives of women, girls and persons with diverse gender identities who have decided to discontinue their pregnancy. It is their body, their choice, their personal decision, their right. You can save lives. Express your support by signing to the position paper at: https://bit.ly/
#DecriminalizeAbortionNow #SaveWomensLives