CAT/C/PHL/CO/3
(b)
Designate a specific lead coordinating agency at the country level for the
implementation of the rehabilitation programme and make clear and adequate
budgetary provisions for the programme to function as a specialized service;
(c)
Ensure that the programme offers specialized rehabilitation services that
are appropriate, available and promptly accessible, in accordance with general
comment No. 3, and ensure that access is not conditional on the filing of formal
administrative or criminal complaints;
(d)
Establish a programme for monitoring and evaluating the impact of the
rehabilitation programme that includes a system of data collection in order to identify
the number of victims and their specific rehabilitation needs;
(e)
Take the steps necessary to prevent, in a comprehensive manner and to
the extent possible, the abduction and military recruitment of children by armed
groups, to facilitate their reintegration into society and to provide them with as a
rehabilitation that is as full as possible and that is specifically designed for their needs.
Reproductive health rights and family planning services
39.
The Committee is concerned at the continuous absolute ban on abortions without
exceptions and at incidents of ill-treatment of women seeking post-abortion or postpregnancy treatment. It is also concerned at the inadequate access to sexual and
reproductive health services, including misinformation about modern methods of
contraception, in particular in Manila, as a result of the implementation of Executive Orders
No. 003 and No. 030 issued by the Manila City Council, the implementation of which has
resulted in a significant number of maternal deaths, fostered domestic violence and caused
damage to women’s mental and physical health (arts. 2 and 16).
40.
The State party should:
(a)
Officially revoke, without delay, Executive Orders No. 003 and No. 030;
(b)
Review its legislation in order to allow for legal exceptions to the
prohibition of abortions in specific circumstances such as when the pregnancy
endangers the life or health of the woman, when it is the result of rape or incest and in
cases of foetal impairment;
(c)
Provide universal access to a full range of the safest and most
technologically advanced methods of contraception, ensure rights-based counselling
and information on reproductive health services to all women and adolescents and
restore access to emergency contraceptives for victims of sexual violence;
(d)
Develop a confidential complaints mechanism for women subjected to
discrimination, harassment or ill-treatment while seeking post-abortion or postpregnancy treatment or other reproductive health services;
(e)
Investigate, prevent and punish all incidents of ill-treatment of women
seeking post-pregnancy care in government hospitals and provide effective legal
remedies to victims.
Corporal punishment of children
41.
The Committee is concerned that the corporal punishment of children in the home
remains lawful in the State party. The Committee is also concerned at the tabling of Bill
No. 922 in Congress, as the Bill aims to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to
9 years (arts. 2 and 16).
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