New York Times: Drumroll…Now, the ‘Half the Sky’ Contest!
By Nicholas Kristof
Melissa Upreti, senior legal advisor and regional manager for Asia, submitted the following entry to the New York Times‘ “Half the Sky” Contest:
Lourdes Osil is in her forties and a mother of seven children. She is poor and struggles hard every day to make ends meet. Her cheerful demeanor belies her frustration with Manila City’s politicians who have for years held women hostage to their reproductive capacity by denying them access to contraceptives in the name of religion.
Over nine years ago, the former mayor of Manila City, Jose “Lito” Atienza issued an executive order which effectively bans the provision of modern contraceptives in city health clinics. As a result, condoms, birth control pills, and even sterilization are virtually prohibited in clinics funded directly by the local government. A huge number of women – especially poor women – have been hurt by this policy as Manila City is one of the most densely populated places in the world.
Access to contraceptives and other reproductive health services is a basic human right flouted by Manila City ‘s politicians everyday with complete disregard for its human impact. Mothers like Lourdes Osil who are already struggling to keep themselves and their families afloat have been driven further into extreme poverty due to unintended pregnancies. Many women have been forced into pregnancy even when it endangers their health. Most of all, Lourdes Osil and those like her are tormented by their inability to adequately feed their children and send them to school. As Lourdes says , these simple dreams remain beyond their reach while Manila City politicians who have condemned to them to this fate do not have to worry about such things.
This injustice underpins Lourdes’ decision to take on the government in a legal battle against the policy. Lourdes is one of twenty men and women who in 2008 boldly decided to confront the Philippines Government by challenging the constitutionality of the order. So far, the case has been dismissed by two high level courts on procedural grounds and today is pending before the Regional Trial Court. Regardless of the refusal of the country’s courts to recognize the injustice caused to Lourdes and many others like her, they have decided to continue their struggle and have in fact been empowered by it. Once victims of a terrible policy, today these women are its most vocal critics and are spearheading the battle against it.
While still struggling to support her family and provide for her children, Lourdes has become leader in this selfless struggle to dismantle a policy that has done nothing but harm. Her only goal is to get the policy overturned. She and the other men and women involved in this case are not seeking anything for themselves – no compensation, not even a formal apology – although are indeed entitled to one. Check out Melissa’s entry and many others at the NYT >,
Learn how to submit your own entry >,
