identities as women and as persons with disabilities, women with disabilities experience this
interaction differently and, more often than not, in a disadvantageous position, due to
inequalities based on gender and perceived ability.
General Recommendation 24 of CEDAW urges state parties to “implement a comprehensive
national strategy to promote women���s health throughout their lifespan. This will include
interventions aimed at both the prevention and treatment of diseases and conditions affecting
women, as well as responding to violence against women, and will ensure universal access for all
women to a full range of high-quality and affordable health care, including sexual and
reproductive health services.”
International and national instrumentalities acknowledge the distinct position and condition of
women with disabilities in the exercise of their sexual and reproductive and health rights, and
thus, emphasize the responsibility of the State to take this into account.
Under Article 25 of the UNCRPD, the State is expected to “provide persons with disabilities with
the same range, quality and standard of free or affordable health care and programmes as
provided to other persons, including in the area of sexual and reproductive health and
population-based public health programmes.”
Under Section 18 of the RPRH Law, cities and municipalities are directed to “endeavor that
barriers to reproductive health services for PWDs are obliterated.”
The findings of the National Inquiry point to a neglect of international and national laws and
policies resulting in the invisibility of women with disabilities in RH programs and services. This
invisibility has perpetuated the current situation where women with disabilities are prevented
from fully enjoying their SRHR, due to multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination on the
grounds of gender and/or disability, or other possible grounds. i.e. economic status and residence
in GIDA.
While the National Inquiry has recorded good practices in all of the regions, they are yet to be
institutionalized through official policies or fully implemented, except in the cases of the CHR,
and the City of Baguio. At the same time, the institutions implementing the activities are limited
to one or two per region. In other words, the efforts are neither comprehensive nor adequate
to substantially improve the current situation of women with disabilities in terms of access to
reproductive health care and access to justice in cases of gender-based violence.
In order to assist the State in realizing its obligation to protect, promote, and fulfill the sexual
and reproductive health and rights of women with disabilities as guaranteed in the CEDAW,
UNRCPD, MCW, and the RPRH law, the Commission, guided by the findings of the National
Inquiry and the suggestions provided by its participants, submits the following
recommendations:
For the Legislature
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