ABORTION: VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

A Position Paper in Social Studies 10

Submitted by

Luigi Dianne C. Guioguio

Grade 10 – Phi

Submitted to

Ma’am Evedanie G. Beldad

Date

December 3, 2018

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 Table of Content

Content Page

Table of Contents i

I. Introduction 3

II. Counter Argument 7

III. Your Argument 10

IV. Conclusions 13

Bibliography 14

Appendix

Survey Questionnaire

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 I. Introduction

Life is sacred on all levels. In Genesis 9:5 “God said that he will demand an accounting
for the life of a human being.” I came to realize that life is a gift from God.

The researcher is against abortion because it is a crime to humanity. The researcher

believes that abortion is morally wrong and is the taking of human life. Individual human life
begins at fertilization, and therefore abortion is the immoral killing of an innocent human being.
It inflicts suffering on the unborn child. Life begins at conception so unborn babies are human
being with a right to life. This individual has a fundamental right to life, which must be
protected. As such, having an abortion is committing murder.

The researcher’s stand is that she is against abortion because it destroys the fetus’ right to
live and may lead to many complicated problems to the mother’s body. This procedure may help
lessen overpopulation but it is unethical and against the rule in the Bible.

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What is Abortion?

An abortion is a procedure used to terminate an ongoing pregnancy. It is the termination

of a pregnancy so that the child will not be born. It is also known as "pregnancy termination."
The embryo, or fetus, as well as the placenta, are removed from the uterus using medicine or
surgery. A licensed health care professional performs the procedure. The decision to terminate a
pregnancy is highly personal. Most doctors will advise you to seek counseling if you are
considering having an abortion. Miscarriage is another term for an abortion that occurs
spontaneously. When intentional steps are taken to end a pregnancy, it is referred to as an
"induced abortion" or, less commonly, an "induced miscarriage." The term "abortion" is
frequently used to refer only to unsafe abortions. A similar procedure performed after the fetus
has the potential to survive outside the womb is known as a "late termination of pregnancy," or,
less precisely, a "late term abortion." A miscarriage occurs when an abortion occurs
spontaneously before 24 weeks of pregnancy. An induced (or "therapeutic") abortion is one that
is performed on purpose in order to end a pregnancy.

There are two types of abortion: medical abortion and surgical abortion. A medical abortion is
the use of medication to end a pregnancy. It does not necessitate surgery or anesthesia and can be
used at any stage of pregnancy. A medical termination without surgery is possible during the first
49 days of pregnancy. It employs two distinct drugs, methotrexate and mifepristone, which may
be followed by misoprostol. It entails several appointments at the doctor's office or clinic, and it
frequently results in some cramping and bleeding at home.

Medical abortions are only effective during the first 49 days of a pregnancy. If a medical
abortion fails, you will need a surgical abortion (if you still want an abortion). Surgical abortion
entails undergoing a procedure under local anaesthetic (numbing the area), conscious sedation
(relaxation while awake), or general anaesthetic (sleep). Abortion by surgical means is a quick
and minor procedure. The most common method of abortion is vacuum aspiration (the suction
method). It's a surgical procedure that requires anaesthesia (mild sedation) and can be done
during the first trimester of pregnancy.

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Risks in Abortion

Abortions are normally highly safe, and most women will have no difficulty obtaining
them from regulated clinics. However, there is a slight chance that anything may go wrong, like
with any medical procedure. The later in pregnancy an abortion is performed, the greater the risk
of complications.

The main risks associated with abortion are: infection of the womb, which occurs in up to
1 in every 10 abortions; it can usually be treated with antibiotics; some of the pregnancy
remaining in the womb, which occurs in up to 1 in every 20 abortions; further treatment may be
required if this occurs; continuation of the pregnancy – occurs in less than 1 in every 100
abortions; further treatment will be required if this occurs; excessive bleeding, which occurs in
about 1 in every 100 abortions.

Women who undergo abortions are no more likely to develop mental health difficulties
than those who carry their pregnancy to term. The hazards of using abortion pills include: the
abortion pills failing to function and the pregnancy continuing, some pregnancy tissue remaining
in your uterus, blood clots in your uterus, excessive or prolonged bleeding, and infection. Having
an abortion will not harm your future chances of becoming pregnant and having normal
pregnancies. Many women can become pregnant quickly after giving birth, so if you don't want
this to happen, you should start taking contraception straight away. This should be discussed
with you at the time of the abortion. However, if you acquire a womb infection and do not treat it
immediately, there is a very minor danger to your fertility and future pregnancies. The infection
has the potential to spread to your fallopian tubes and ovaries, causing pelvic inflammatory
disease (PID).

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Why do people decide to have an abortion?

Every year, millions of women suffer unwanted pregnancies, and around four out of
every ten of them choose to have an abortion. Some people who had planned pregnancies get
abortions for health or safety concerns. The majority of abortion patients polled in 1987 reported
that more than one issue influenced their choice to have an abortion; the average number of
factors was nearly four. Three-quarters claimed having a kid would interfere with job, education,
or other duties, two-thirds said they couldn't afford a child, and half said they didn't want to be a
single parent or had marital issues. A multivariate study found that young teens were 32% more
likely than women over the age of 18 to believe they were not mature enough to have a child and
19% more likely to believe their parents wanted them to have an abortion. Unmarried women
were 17% more likely than presently married women to seek abortion to keep others from
finding out they had sex or became pregnant. Women who had abortions at 16 or more weeks'
gestation blamed their delay to not realizing they were pregnant or not knowing the exact
gestation of their pregnancy early enough.

Almost half of the abortions were postponed due to difficulties in organizing the
procedure, which was generally due to a lack of funds. One-third of women delayed having an
abortion because they were terrified to notify their spouse or parents, they were pregnant.
According to an article on abortion in the United States, a multivariate study found that
respondents under the age of 18 were 39 percent more likely than older women to have delayed
because they were frightened to notify their parents or partner.

According to study conducted between 2008 and 2010, the most frequently reported reasons for
abortion given by women (as well as the percentage of women who gave them) are as follows.
It's worth noting that women were permitted to offer various explanations in this survey:

 Not financially prepared: 40 percent

 Bad timing, not ready, or unplanned: 36 percent
 Partner-related reasons (including the relationship is bad or new, she doesn't want to be a
single mother, her partner is not supportive, does not want the baby, is abusive, or is the
wrong guy): 31 percent
 Need to focus on her other children: 29 percent

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  Not emotionally or mentally prepared: 19 percent
 Interferes with educational or vocational plans: 20 percent
 Health-related reasons (includes concern for her own health, the health of the fetus, use of
prescription or non-prescription drugs, alcohol, or tobacco): 12 percent
 Want a better life for a baby than she could provide: 12 percent
 Not independent or mature enough for a baby: 7 percent
 Influences from family or friends: 5 percent
 Doesn't want a baby or to place the baby for adoption: 4 percent
 Partner-related issues: 31 percent

(Credits: Very Well Health)

II. Counter Argument

The stigma of abortion raises issues for various people's points of view. The Philippines, a
Catholic country, has many beliefs that are opposed to the stated situation; however, many
individuals believe that abortion should be permitted in the country. So, in this section of the
paper, the advantages and reasons why abortion will be allowed in the Philippines will be
mentioned. Abortion is a personal choice. Really, it's just like any other personal decision that
needs to be taken. It is up to the individual and their partner to make that decision, not society.

Advantages of Abortion

A. ABORTION PREVENTS UNINTENDED PREGNANCY FOR WOMEN

1. This treatment allows women to restart their pregnancies and resume their usual lives.
They can abort the unwanted pregnancy and avoid the repercussions of motherhood, which
entails numerous sacrifices such as money, time, and strength, but the kid will suffer as a
result of their actions.

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2. Unplanned pregnancies can injure a woman psychologically or physically, because a
woman must be mentally and physically prepared to have a kid. In addition, women are not
saddled with unwelcome tasks like as child raising and other financial obligations. Abortion
is also advantageous for people who wish to continue their careers or who suffer from certain
medical disorders. It is up to the lady to decide what she will do with her body.

B. ABORTIONS GIVE WOMEN THE RIGHT TO HAVE A CHILD

1. Women can choose whether or not to accept the kid. They may elect to terminate the kid
and then conduct their lives as if the pregnancy had never occurred. For some, this pregnancy
may be unwanted, and abortion allows them to end it. If they are unable to meet the
requirements of the kid in the future, abortion will assist them mitigate the repercussions.

2. Abortions provide women the option of deciding whether or not to have the baby with
whom they have become pregnant. Some women may not want a kid because they cannot
afford one, it is the wrong moment in their careers, they are in a situation with their lifestyle
that prevents them from providing for one, they were raped, the child is the result of
incestuous relations, or they are with an abusive spouse. Any of these factors might be
prompting them to refuse a pregnancy that will be both emotionally and financially draining.
Abortion can be emotionally draining, but for many women, it is the only option.

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C. THE INCREASE IN NUMBER IN THE SOCIETY IS REDUCED BY
ABORTIONS

1. In the Philippines, overpopulation is becoming a major issue. This is primarily due to

unplanned pregnancies and a lack of family planning. In the Philippines, jobs are not
available for everyone, so some people are unemployed, so they reproduce and increase the
number of family members in their home. If abortion is made legal in the country, it may
help to reduce overpopulation. This is an effective method of reducing the country's
overpopulation.

2. A further advantage is that the foster care system is already overloaded, and if abortion
were made illegal, tens of thousands more children would be placed in a system that already
has too many children, not enough stable foster parents, and even fewer people who actually
adopt. And the reasons why people are unable to adopt are a different story altogether, but
one major issue that is becoming more prevalent is religious-based or religious-funded
adoption agencies that will not allow parents to adopt children unless they are religious and
will raise the child in the proper religious home. So religious people want abortion to be
illegal, but they also deny loving parents the ability to adopt because they aren't religious
enough.

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 III. Research Argument

In the statements stated above, indicates both the pros and cons of abortion and its risk to
the life and the mother and the child. The researcher wants to make clear the she is biased to the
cons of abortion since she stands that it is against human rights and may bring harm to the
mother and the family in the following years. In this section of the position paper, the researcher
will be stating the assert points of her clams against abortion.

A. RISK OF CONTRIBUTING HEALTH - RELATED ISSUES BEING INCREASED

1. Numerous complications may occur during the procedure, such as blood loss or internal
wounds that go unnoticed and may lead to larger issues such as death and disease in the future.
CERVICAL, OVARIAN, LIVER CANCER, UTERINE PERFORATION, and other diseases
are examples of these.

2. Abortion is strongly linked to behavioral changes such as promiscuity, smoking, drug abuse,
and eating disorders, all of which increase the risk of developing health problems. Sexuality and
abortion, for example, have both been linked to increased rates of PID and ectopic pregnancies.
It is unclear who contributes the most, but apportionment may be irrelevant if the promiscuity is
a reaction to post-abortion trauma or loss of self-esteem. Researchers discovered that pregnancy
loss, particularly losses due to induced abortion, was significantly associated with poor overall
health in a survey of 1428 women. While miscarriage was harmful to health, abortion was found
to have a stronger correlation with poor health.

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B. PHYSICAL DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH ABORTION

1. Abortion can have a negative impact on the mother's mental health. They may suffer
psychological traumas, sleep disturbances, and intense guilt as a result of the act.
According to numerous studies, many women who have had abortions are more prone to
depression, eating disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, drug abuse, and a variety of
mental disorders such as bipolar disorder and others. As a result of these outcomes, many
people will attempt suicide in the future.

2.  According to a study of 56,741 California Medicaid patients' medical records, women who
had abortions were 160 percent more likely than delivering women to be hospitalized for
psychiatric treatment in the first 90 days after abortion or delivery. For at least four years, rates
of psychiatric treatment remained significantly higher. In a study of post-abortion patients only 8
weeks after their abortion, researchers discovered that 44% had nervous disorders, 36% had
sleep disturbances, 31% had regrets about their decision, and 11% had been prescribed
psychotropic medication by their family doctor. Researchers have identified a large number of
statistically significant risk factors that indicate which women are most likely to have one or
more severe abortion reactions. Approximately 60% of women who have post-abortion squeal
report suicidal ideation, with 28% actually attempting suicide, half of whom attempted suicide
twice or more.

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C. VIOLATION OF THE UNBORN CHILD'S RIGHTS

1. Abortion infringes not only on the rights of the child, but also on the right to life. The
youngster bears the brunt of the consequences. He or she is not a part of the problem caused by
his or her biological parents. It will die without having had a chance to taste. This might be
deemed a crime, a murder for the death of a human being. As a Christian, I feel that this conduct
is against God, because He made everything beautifully and everyone has the right to seize
possibilities, which abortion denies.

2. According to some United Nations experts, resisting abortion would constitute a kind of
torture, as well as a violation of children's rights. Such an accusation is disgraceful; it severely
affects free speech and religious freedom and calls into doubt the impartiality of certain
important members of the Committee. It was recently developed against the Holy See by
members of the United Nations Committee Against Torture in order to challenge the Catholic
Church's doctrine on the sanctity of life. Everyone has the right to an education, but there is a
persistent disparity between affluent and poor, as well as in the percentages of boys and girls
who are permitted to attend school and complete a course of study. A new born infant has so few
of the qualities necessary for moral personhood' at birth that its right to life cannot be predicated
on it being a moral person.' Everyone has the right to live.

The Bible has a lot to say on the beginning of life, the taking of life, and the protection of
the unborn. While the Bible does not address the specific issue of abortion, it does stress the
dignity of human life. When God gave his people the absolutes of spiritual and moral living in
Exodus 20:13, he ordered, "You shalt not kill." The Law of Moses regarded unborn newborns as
human beings, deserving of the same rights and protections as adults. God demanded the same
penalty for killing a kid in the womb as he did for killing an adult.

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 IV. Conclusion

The researcher's anti-abortion stance claims that the issue affects the physical and
physiological risk to the mother, the child, and her family, where the physical aspect of the
mother may be harmed and may lead to illnesses due to abortion, and the mental aspect may also
be affected by causing mental traumas, PTSD, and other mental disorders. The researcher's key
point is that the unborn child's right is being infringed. The act itself is immoral since it amounts
to murdering a kid. According to the Bible, this conduct is totally against God's law. The child's
right to life has been taken away. Abortion should not be authorized in the Philippines because it
might generate problems with the Christian community and lead to abuse by the country's
residents.

Such cases are common in the Philippines, where more than half of pregnancies are
unintended, and approximately 17 percent and one-third of unintended pregnancies end in
abortion nationwide and in the National Capital Region, respectively, and where two-thirds of
those who induce abortion are poor, but there are other abortion alternatives. Another possibility
is adoption. The youngster may be placed with another relative to be cared for. People who are
going to have a kid should speak with medical professionals to monitor the child's growth.
Pregnant women should limit their consumption of alcohol, cigarettes, and illicit substances in
order to improve their nutritional status and protect their unborn child. Maternity programs
should be attended by parents in order to gain knowledge and guidance during their pregnancy.

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Bibliography

List of Sources

https://www.bpas.org/abortion-care/considering-abortion/what-is-abortion/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/abortion/what-happens/
https://medlineplus.gov/abortion.html
http://www.familyplanning.org.nz/advice/abortion/what-is-abortion
http://www.pamf.org/teen/sex/pregnancy/abortion.html
https://www.mariestopes.ie/abortion-care/what-is-abortion/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/abortion/risks/
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/abortion/the-abortion-pill/how-safe-is-the-
abortion-pill
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3243347
https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-disadvantages-of-abortion
https://missmillmag.com/relationships/5-alternatives-abortion/
https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/gender-issues/92590-abortion-philippines-
legalization
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/abortion/child/potential.shtml
https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/ispeak/105680-reality-abortion-philippines
https://eclj.org/abortion/un/eclj-at-the-un-abortion-is-torture-and-a-violation-of-
childrens-rights
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resources/abortion/articles-and-
addresses/among-the-rights-of-the-child-the-right-to-life-is-the-first
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-does-the-bible-say-about-abortion-4077124

Previous Studies Related to Depression

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4413919/

2. https://www.guttmacher.org/report/unintended-pregnancy-and-unsafe-abortion-philippines-
context-and-consequences

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