The Philippines Supreme Court has delayed a reproductive health bill that has been decades in the making.

The controversial law to give Filipino women access to sexual education, subsidised contraception, family planning and prenatal care will be reheard by the court in June. Auckland law student and Pacific Scoop contributor Cameron Walker, who recently returned from a fact-finding trip to the Philippines, says the proposed legislation has proved divisive in the country. The debate is primarily couched between the powerful and doctrinal Catholic Church and US-supported population control advocates. But the Gabriela Womens Partys Jang Mone Hernandez says reproductive health should never be about population control. Amnesty Internationals Grant Bayldon says access to reproductive healthcare is a universal human right, and activist Amie Dural says it is just one of many womens rights that needs to be addressed. Gabriela seeks removal of population control provisions in the controversial Reproductive Health Bill. Image: Bulatlat Reproductive and sexual health is a complex issue being dealt with by diverse Asia Pacific communities, according to Family Panning Internationals Sami Subramaniam. New Zealand Aids Foundations Dr Jason Meyers says it is an issue that needs to be approached from a strong human rights framework focused on access, openness and acceptance. Michael Sergel reports on the complex issue of reproductive health and contraception in the Philippines and how it is being dealt with across the Asia Pacific.