In the Philippines the situation is extremely difficult for women who choose to have an abortion. The restrictive abortion legislation, where no clear exceptions are accepted, not even when the woman’s life or health is at risk, in cases of rape or incest, forces women to have unsafe procedures resulting in a high number of maternal deaths. Each day, 3 women die as a result of abortion-related, 274 women are hospitalized and 1,671 women undergo medically unsafe abortion procedures despite the risk of criminal prosecution.
To shed light on this immense problem, the Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy Network (PINSAN) will join in the global action on September 28 by launching, a website (pinsan.ph) that will provide information and research on abortion in the country including the impact of the criminal ban to the health and lives of Filipino women and girls. The website will also provide links to the global safe and legal abortion advocacy.
PINSAN is a network of individuals and organizations committed to promoting women’s human rights and working towards achieving full realization of women and girls’ human rights – including their sexual and reproductive health and rights. PINSAN believes that the absolute criminal ban on abortion in the Philippines is in violation of women’s fundamental human rights, including the rights to life, health, privacy, and freedom from discrimination and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.