Should the youth be given access to reproductive health services?

A prominent lawyer has hit the recent statement of the International Planned Parenthood Federation that practically seeks to give the youth a right to reproductive health services.

Lawyer Romulo Macalintal decried this and said that such a law may practically bypass other local laws such as parental or spousal consent laws.

He noted that youth’s access to sexual rights is unconstitutional as it violates the “primary” right of parents to nurture their children especially in the development of their character, the Catholic lawyer said.

“Clearly, under our Constitution, it is the primary right and duty of the parents to rear our youth especially in the development of their moral character. This is in total opposition to the aforesaid position of the IPPF,” Macalintal said in a statement posted on the website of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

The lawyer cited Section 12, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution which reads, “The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic and efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of the government.”

He added that he is no longer surprised to hear such “ridiculous and frivolous” position from the IPFF which he called the “largest abortion provider in the world.” The organization has lobbied worldwide for the legalization and for repeal of laws preventing legal access to abortion.

Macalintal, however, expressed his confidence that the Philippines will never stop parents from exercising their control and guidance over their children.

“Our culture and tradition are so different from other modern countries and I am still hopeful that a great majority of our youth of today and their parents uphold a high degree of standards in their moral and family values,” he said.

Macalintal noted that IPPF’s aim to make parental authority irrelevant in the lives of their children particularly concerning access to reproductive health services has become more significant as the United Nations Commission on Population and Development is considering giving sexual and reproductive health and rights to children as young as 10 years old.

He added that youth’s sexual rights will include access to abortion and contraception, comprehensive sex education, and other reproductive health services. –Shielo Mendoza | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom