The Reproductive Health Law of 2012, also known as the RH Bill, is a law in the Philippines that guarantees universal and free access to nearly all modern contraceptives for all citizens, including impoverished communities, at government health centers. The law also mandates reproductive health education in government schools and recognizes a woman’s right to post-abortion care as part of the right to reproductive healthcare. The RH Bill was approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives on December 17, 2012, after 14 years of being in the dustbins of Congress, mainly due to strong opposition from the Catholic Church. The RH Bill was immediately challenged in court by various conservative Catholic groups, and on March 19, 2013, the Supreme Court issued a status quo ante order for 120 days that was later extended indefinitely, halting the RH Law from going into effect.
The RH Bill provides for "prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other STIs/STDs", especially since the number of HIV cases among the young nearly tripled. The law strikes down some longstanding barriers for women’s access to sexual and reproductive health care, including access to natural and modern contraception and reproductive health information for adults.
Despite the challenges, the RH Bill became a law because of the vibrant and dedicated RH movement—composed of advocates and champions from the grassroots, civil society organizations, non-government organizations, academia, and the private sector—that came together to ensure its full implementation after long years of hard-fought battle.
