Advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights: An overview of the best practices in the Philippines

ABSTRACT

Despite the existence of laws and policies, full realization of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender equality continues to be a challenge in the Philippines. Hence, civil society organizations explore different strategies to improve reproductive health (RH) service delivery and to create safe spaces for women. To understand these efforts further, this study will examine four themes among the best practices of civil society organizations: education, male engagement, empowerment and advocacy. Here, I will explore some of their experiences in educating the community about their SRHRs, enhancing male responsibility on reproductive health, empowering gender-based violence victims and contextualizing global campaigns for local women’s activism. Despite some limitations, the practices identified here illustrated significant results in the advancement of sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender equality in the Philippines.

ABSTRACT IN TAGALOG

Sa kabila ng mga batas at polisiya, patuloy pa ring isang hamon ang lubusang pagsasakatuparan ng sekswal at reproduktibong kalusugan at karapatan at gender equality sa Pilipinas. Dahil dito, tumutuklas ang mga lipunang pambayang organisasyon ng iba’t ibang estratehiya upang mapabuti ang pagbibigay serbisyo ng pangkalusugang reproduktibo at paggawa ng ligtas na pamayanan para sa mga kababaihan. Upang lubusang maunawaan ang mga hakbang, susuriin ng pag-aaral ang apat na tema ng mga pinakamahuhusay na gawain ng mga lipunang pambayang organisasyon: edukasyon, pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga kalalakihan, pagbibigay kakayahan at adbokasiya. Gagalugarin rin ang mga karanasan sa pagtuturo sa mga komunidad tungkol sa sekswal at reproduktibong kalusugan at karapatan, pagpapalawig ng responsibilidad ng mga kalalakihan sa pangkalusugang reproduktibo, pagbibigay kakayahan sa mga biktima ng gender-based violence, at paglalagay sa konteksto ng mga pandaigdigang kampanya para sa lokal na aktibismo ng mga kababaihan. Sa kabila ng mga limitasyon, ang mga gawaing binanggit dito ay nagpapakita ng makabuluhang resulta sa pagsusulong ng sekswal at reproduktibong kalusugan at karapatan at gender equality sa Pilipinas.

KEYWORDS:

• Sexual and reproductive health
• gender equality
• activism
• sexual and gender based violence
• male involvement

KEYWORDS:

• Sekswal at pang-reproduktibong kalusugan
• gender equality
• aktibismo

Notes on contributor

Sarah Jane Arcos BITON was born and raised in a rural village in Bicol Region, Philippines, a place known for the majestic Mayon Volcano. She did her B.A, in Sociology at the University of the Philippines (2004–2006), B.S. in Nursing at the Philippine Women’s University (2009–2012) and currently is doing a Masters in Development Communication at University of the Philippines-Open University (2014–present). She has almost five years of professional experience in development work. She is currently Program Operations Group Head of the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP), a Member Association of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). She was formerly Projects Consultant in Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights. Email: [email protected].