The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Tuesday backed Senate Bill (SB) No. 2658 or the Free Menstrual Products Act to empower the health and social development of women, particularly those in the indigent sector.
“The Commission welcomes SB 2658 as it reinforces the implementation of Article II, Section 15 of the 1987 Constitution, which protects citizen’s right to health, and Republic Act No. 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women, which promotes basic health care and services, especially for the marginalized sectors,” the CHR said in a statement.
The Commission believes that as a signatory of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), it is about time that the Philippines adopt local policies to fulfill its commitment.
“The CEDAW ensures that there is equal access and opportunities for all women through appropriate measures and legislations which protect and promote their rights,” it noted.
SB 2658, filed by then Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, requires the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Education to provide free menstrual products to students of all public schools nationwide, particularly at the primary and secondary levels.
It seeks to promote health and hygiene in disadvantaged communities, requiring the DOH, local government units and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to distribute menstrual products to those who lack access to it.
Menstruation is a natural monthly cycle that should not be excluded in the distribution of basic services and needs, the CHR stressed.
“The Commission recognizes the urgency of menstrual health in the country as a human rights issue and calls for the collaboration of the Congress to expedite the passage of this legislation in advancing the right to health in the country,” its statement read.
