Another gender issue prevalent in displaced communities is their increased vulnerability to  trafficking.     To some extent, the people interviewed for the CHR National Inquiry on RH attributed the uneven  implementation of the RH Law to the government decentralization wherein a large part of health  services is now managed by the LGUs. This made health service more politicized in that it has  become more vulnerable to the interests of local politicians rather than grounded on national and  international human rights standards. The implementation of the RH Law in Sorsogon and Manila is  an example of this.     On the other hand, the relative autonomy of LGUs to craft its own policies have also benefitted the  RH advocacy as in the case of Marikina, Quezon City, Cebu and Davao City which have initiated  gender-specific programs and services even prior to the enactment of the RH Law, though their  Gender and Development Code or GAD Ordinance. After the enactment of the RH Law, the  LGUs of Marikina passed a “Contraceptive Self-Reliance” Ordinance, which provided for the  allotment of PhP 1,000,000 to purchase contraceptives and supplement the family planning supplies  from the national government.     Reproductive health also requires personnel who are trained not only on the technicalities of  (medical) service provision but also are gender and culturally sensitive and responsive. Having  gender sensitive and responsive RH personnel is a requirement of the law that aims is founded on  the State’s commitment to “the promotion of gender equality, gender equity, women empowerment  70 and dignity as a health and human rights concern and as a social responsibility.” The State  principles on which the RH law is embedded further states, “The advancement and protection of  women’s human rights shall be central to the efforts of the State to address reproductive health  71 care.” Cultural sensitivity is also critical component in health service delivery across  differently-situated and diverse groups in the country, particularly in reproductive health that  concerns attitudes, behaviors and practices that are intimate, private and even taboo in some  cultures, not just bodily functions. The Magna Carta of Women, for instance, is explicit in putting  this as a criteria when it stated, “ The State shall, at all times, provide for a comprehensive,  culture-sensitive, and gender-responsive health services and programs covering all stages of a  72 woman’s life cycle….”     This issue intersects with the concern over the unethical practices of service providers as discussed  in the previous sections.     RH and Abortion    That the RH Law promotes abortion is an accusation that has been leveled off at the policy since it  was proposed in Congress; it remains to be one of the strongest reasons why some groups object to  implement its provisions related to modern contraception and non-traditional family planning  methods. In addition to moral and religious beliefs held by people opposed to abortion, abortion is  70 Section 2, RA 10354.  Ibid.  72 Section 17(a), RA 9710  71 24 RH Situationer: Phlippines (November 2017)

Select target paragraph3

Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents