III. HOW RESTRICTIVE ABORTION LAWS HARM DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND EQUALITY Where restrictive abortion laws are in place, women are forced to undergo unsafe procedures that can pose a significant threat to their health and lives. Restrictive abortion laws also undermine a country’s national development, including efforts to improve public health or end poverty. To effectively achieve development goals, like those related to public health, Congress must undertake a law reform process to reduce unsafe abortions and empower women and girls to fully realize their reproductive rights. REASONS FILIPINO WOMEN SEEK ABORTION SERVICES6 Inability to afford the economic cost of raising a child 72% Husband, partner, or relatives did not want the pregnancy 32% Pregnancy occurred too soon after their last one 57% Pregnancy would damage their health 31% Number of existing children are enough 54% Pregnancy resulted from forced sex 13% Unintended pregnancies are also a significant underlying reason for abortion. In general, studies indicate that unintended pregnancies and the incidence of abortion are both higher in places where women experience barriers in access to contraceptives.7 In the Philippines, 17% of married women have an unmet need for family planning services; younger married women have the highest unmet need among all age groups (30% of those aged 15-19).8 CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS 3