Linking culture and family planning can reduce population growth

By Lei Chavez, abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/12/2008 6:47 PM

With the world population on the rise, development strategies should be sensitive to cultural values and human rights, says the United Nations Population Fund in its 2008 State of World Population report released Wednesday.

According to the report, policies that have a deeper understanding of a country's culture can reduce human rights violations and promote gender equality.

The report suggested culturally-sensitive approaches that can be used by organizations and their community-based partners in solving harmful practices such as child marriage, mutilation, rape, and the likes within their communities.

The report, according to Michael Tan, chair of the department of anthropology in the University of the Philippines, provided "links between reproductive health and culture."

Tan narrated that even though Filipina wives know their husbands are engaging in unsafe multiple sex, they can't ask their husbands to wear condoms.

"Men don't practice planning methods," said Suneeta Mukherjee, UN representative. She also said that sexuality education remains a neglected and controversial issue in most communities.

According to Mukherjee, poor women are bound by tradition and culture that are detrimental to their well-being. "Women are not in the position to decide when and with whom to become pregnant and the number of children they will have."

Four babies are estimated to be born every minute and 11 mothers die while giving birth each day. Every mother who dies leaves behind three orphans, according to the report.

Likewise, 3.8 Filipinos are estimated to engage in early sex, 80% of which are unsafe sex. She also noted that "unintended pregnancies ensure poverty continues from generation to generation."

Mukherjee explained that deeper understanding of the culture can help in the development of policies that can harmonize human rights with culture. The report was released in lieu of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, particularly women's rights.

Unmet population goals

Results from the 2007 census proved that the government failed to meet its goal to lessen population growth.

According to Esperanza Cabral, secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the 2007 population turnout decreased from 2.36% in 2000 to 2.04% in 2007. But this decrease still fell short of the 1.9% target by 2006.

Data from the UP Population Institute indicated that the country is one of the most populous countries in the world, said Cabral. About "1.8 million people are being born every year despite population problems that have been anticipated 14 years ago."

The forum also touched on the ongoing debates on reproductive health bill in the Congress. When asked about her stand on the said bill, Cabral told journalists that the cabinet has no stand on the bill.

Cabral also clarified that even without the passage of the bill, there are still organizations, both public and private, that have programs on motherhood, abortion, infant mortality rate, and the like.

But, Cabral said, the passage of the bill will somehow institutionalize the programs. "And it is better for everybody."

She also noted that despite the friction with the Catholic Church created by the bill, the current SWS survey said that 71% of Filipinos were in favor of the passage of the reproductive health bill. "Seven out of 10 Filipinos want the bill to be passed."

"In terms of women's education, positions in the society, we fare well but in terms of reproductive health and women empowerment, we fare poorly," said Tan.

More on women and children

The report discussed the women's plight in conflict areas such as Basilan. Rape victims were forced either to stay mum about the incident or marry their oppressors.

Rape incidents increased in Basilan from 2000 to 2003 during the conflict. Sukherjee said that such incidents are because of "deep-rooted culture beliefs." Communities tend to perceive abused women as "unclean" and nobody would want to marry them.

According to Froilan Mendoza, chairperson of the Teduray-Lambangian Women's Organization, rape cases in indigenous communities are only discussed with the datus, not known by the community to "protect the dignity of the woman."

Mendoza also said that in such cases, victims are forced to marry their oppressors to save face. "We are still looking into how to improve the situation."

The Teduray-Lambangian Women's organization addresses the plights of the Teduray and Lambangian tribes in Mindanao. These tribes are parts of what is referred to as "Lumads" or non-Catholic and non-Muslim tribes in Mindanao.

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