G

LAWS AND ITS

HUMAN R

CULTURAL O
U
VARIATION
Leader: Kevin Jay Gutierez

Members:
Andrei Monteja Montaril
Earl Magno
Issisah Wayne Linghon
Jefferson Tulid
Kate Floralde
Louie Caranto Bruce
Mark Laluan
Maxine Faustino
Dexter Diocampo
 G
SAME R
SEX
O
MARRIAGE U
 To date, only 29 out of the 195 countries in the
world have legalized same-sex marriage. While
many same-sex couples have no choice but to wait
for legalization – some are together for decades
before they are finally able to marry – in many
countries, people who can choose to get married are
doing so later in life.
Opposition to legalizing same-sex marriage
often comes from religious organizations who claim
that it destroys the sanctity of marriage. However, a
U.S. study has shown that heterosexual couples
divorce at higher rates than homosexual couples,
with some states having lower divorce rates than
others, and within each state, places where more
people are getting divorced.
But, the Philippines does not offer any legal
recognition to same-sex marriage, civil unions or
domestic partnership benefits.
 G

R
ABORTION
O
U
 While abortions are legal at least under certain
conditions in almost all countries, these conditions
vary widely. According to a United Nations (UN)
report with data gathered up to 2019, abortion is
allowed in 98% of countries in order to save a
woman's life. Other commonly-accepted reasons are
preserving physical (72%) or mental health (69%),
in cases of rape or incest (61%), and in cases of fetal
impairment (61%). Performing an abortion because
of economic or social reasons is accepted in 37% of
countries. Performing abortion only on the basis of a
woman's request is allowed in 34% of countries,
including in the United States, Canada, most
European countries and China.
 But, in Article II of the 1987 Philippine
Constitution says, in part, "Section 12. The State
recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall
protect and strengthen the family as a basic
autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect
the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from
conception."

The act is criminalized by Philippine law.

Articles 256, 258 and 259 of the Revised Penal Code
of the Philippines mandate imprisonment for women
who undergo abortion, as well as for any person who
assists in the procedure. Article 258 further imposes
a higher prison term on the woman or her parents if
the abortion is undertaken "in order to conceal [the
woman's dishonour".
 G

R
DIVORCE
O
U
 Divorce is different from annulment, which declares
the marriage null and void, with legal separation or de jure
separation (a legal process by which a married couple may
formalize a de facto separation while remaining legally
married) or with de facto separation (a process where the
spouses informally stop cohabiting). Reasons for divorce
vary, from sexual incompatibility or lack of independence
for one or both spouses to a personality clash.

The only countries that do not allow divorce are the

Philippines and the Vatican City. In the Philippines,
divorce for non-Muslim Filipinos is not legal unless the
husband or wife is an alien and satisfies certain conditions.
The Vatican City is an ecclesiastical state, which has no
procedure for divorce. Countries that have relatively
recently legalized divorce are Italy (1970), Portugal (1975,
although from 1910 to 1940 it was possible both for the
civil and religious marriage), Brazil (1977), Spain (1981),
Argentina (1987), Paraguay (1991), Colombia (1991);
from 1976 was allowed only for non-Catholics), Andorra
(1995), Ireland (1996), Chile (2004) and Malta (2011).
 G

MARIJUANA R

LEGALIZATION O
U
 The South American nation became one the first
countries in the world to legalise the use of cannabis for
recreational purposes, in 2013. People, above 18, here just
have to make sure they officially register with the
government before they engage in any buying, selling, or
growing. As of 2017, you can buy commercial grass in
Uruguay from regular pharmacies. This is the future
liberals want.

In Canada, the consumption of marijuana is legalised

by law for recreational and medicinal purposes. People
who are 18 years old or above are legally allowed to
possess up to 30 grams of marijuana in its dried or non-
dried form in public.

Cannabis has been illegal in the Philippines since

1972 by virtue of Republic Act No. 6425, or the
Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972. RA6425 classified
marijuana as a prohibited drug, and detailed out
punishments for the importation, sale, manufacture,
cultivation, possession, and use of the drug, as well as
possession of any drug-related paraphernalia.
 G

R
PROSTITUTION
O
U
 The oldest job in the world has, for quite a long
time now, been regarded as a hateful and fallen choice
of work. Prostitution exists and will continue to exist
despite bans and their legal status, due to reasons like
poverty or unforeseen situations. Some countries
choose to outright ban the practise, while other
countries have tried regulating prostitution, providing
sex workers with health and social benefits. New
Zealand, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium,
Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France,
Germany, Greece, Indonesia, and Netherlands
 Prostitution in the Philippines is illegal, although
somewhat tolerated, with law enforcement being rare
with regards to sex workers. Penalties range up to life
imprisonment for those involved in trafficking, which
is covered by the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of
2003. Prostitution is available through bars, karaoke
bars (also known as KTVs), massage parlors, brothels
(also known as casa), street walkers, and escort
services.

In 2013, it was estimated that there were up to

500,000 prostitutes in the Philippines, from a
population of roughly 97.5 million. Citing a 2005
study, Senator Pia S. Cayetano asserted in her “Anti-
Prostitution Act” (Senate Bill No. 2341 s.2010), that
the number of people being exploited in prostitution
in the Philippines could be as high as 800,000. The
bill was reintroduced in 2013 as Senate Bill No. 3382,
and in 2015 as Senate Bill No. 2621.
 References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_the_Philippines#:~:text=The%20Philippines%20does%20not%20offer,uni
ons%20or%20domestic%20partnership%20benefits
.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/06/13/countries-where-same-sex-marriage-is-officially-legal/39514623/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_in_the_Philippines

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion_law

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divorce

https://www.scoopwhoop.com/inothernews/countries-with-legal-prostitution/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_Philippines

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_the_Philippines
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