10/04/2014
A year after the SQAO on the RH Law, SC urged to rule on its constitutionality
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A year after a Status Quo Ante Order (SQAO) was issued against the implementation of the Reproductive Health (RH) Law by the Supreme Court, women members of Akbayan Party-list today trooped to the high tribunal and asked the justices to vote for the constitutionality of the landmark measure.
Led by Akbayan Chairperson Risa Hontiveros, the women advocates mounted a “victory wreath” in front of the SC to symbolize their optimism that the RH Law will be declared constitutional and implemented this year.
They also brought flowers and placed them at the gate of the SC compound to dramatize their appeal to the SC justices to rule in favor of reproductive health rights.
"As the SQAO on the RH law turns a year old, we hope that the SC Justices will finally lift the order, rule on the constitutionality of the measure and let it be implemented to the fullest. Sana ito na ang una at huling birthday ng SQAO laban sa RH Law," Hontiveros said.
4,015 women lost to maternal mortality
Hontiveros said a year without the RH Law is one year too much."The consequences are just too costly. With the SQAO in full effect, it prevented us from changing the status quo where 11 women die everyday as a result of the lack of reproductive health services," Hontiveros said."By simply going through the numbers, with the RH Law suspended for one whole year; the government has failed to save the lives of 4,015 women. Certainly, a day passing without the RH Law is truly atrocious," Hontiveros added.
Aside from the women, Hontiveros said the SQAO on the RH Law also dealt a big blow to the Filipino youth."Another victim of this unnecessary and long delay is the youth. Without a progressive policy tool, young Filipinos are prevented from receiving correct and proper education on s*x and s*xuality, education that is very crucial as they confront the climate of ignorance which caused many among their ranks to become victims of unwanted teenage pregnancies and s*xually-transmitted diseases," Hontiveros said.
However, Hontiveros said she welcomes the pronouncement made by the high tribunal that it will rule on the RH Law this April."While we hoped that the SC will decide on this matter much earlier, we nonetheless welcome the pronouncement. April being the spring month, we hope the high tribunal's decision will enable the RH Law to fully blossom as it tries to provide the public a greater chance at a better quality of life," Hontiveros said.
Opportunity to stand up vs. bigotry and intolerance
Hontiveros also urged the high court to seize the "unique opportunity" to stand up against bigotry and intolerance.
"The House of the Representatives, the Senate and President Aquino have already demonstrated their resolve on this issue. Now it is the Supreme Court's chance to show the same courage and political will. It will be very tragic if the SC will do otherwise. It will be forever remembered as an institution which used its judicial review mandate to kill a progressive law which was the product of the people's 14 years of struggle and consistent advocacy," Hontiveros said.
"The people are watching and waiting. We hope the SC will not fail them," Hontiveros ended. # # #
