Government courting HIV/AIDS explosion for policy against condoms

May 5, 2004

Manila - A government ban on using national funds to distribute condoms could result in an explosion of HIV/AIDS cases in this predominantly Roman-Catholic nation, an international human rights watchdog warned yesterday.

The Philippines has one of the lowest infection rates in Asia, with about 10,000 cases in a country of 84 million.

But Human Rights Watch said the government's refusal to pay for condom distribution means large numbers of Filipinos will be denied access to one of the best means of prevention for those who are sexually active, placing many at risk of infection with the virus that causes AIDS.

"The Philippines is courting an AIDS epidemic with its anti-condom approach," said researcher Jonathan Cohen. "The casualties will be millions of people who cannot protect themselves from HIV infection."

The report, "Unprotected: Sex, Condoms, and the Human Right to Health in the Philippines," noted that some local officials, like the Manila mayor, prohibit distribution of condoms in government health facilities. School-based HIV/AIDS educators are often not allowed to discuss condoms, it added.

In 2003, the Catholic Bishops's Conference of the Philippines blocked legislation that would have authorized the use of national funds for condoms and other contraceptives.

That same year, President Arroyo's administration awarded a P50 million (US$896,000) contract to an organization, Couples for Christ, to provide "natural family planning" seminars that discourage condom use, the report said.

The report criticized the Philippines for failing to provide complete HIV/AIDS information to sex workers and other groups at high risk of infection. It quoted sex workers as saying they rarely use condoms and sometimes question their effectiveness, while others said police used possession of condoms as evidence to prosecute prostitutes.

Human Rights Watch urged candidates in May 10 presidential elections to address the urgent need for HIV/AIDS education, including the importance of condoms.

Archbishop Fernando Capalla, president of the CBCP, refused to comment on the report until he had seen it. But he said the church's objection to the use of condoms and its preference for married couples use of natural birth control methods is well known.

He said the church believes sex workers should be convinced to seek another livelihood, and that promoting condom use among them would not be right.

Roderick Poblete, head of the Philippines's National Aids Council, said the government subscribes to the World Health Organization's "100 percent condom use" policy. But he also emphasized the importance of sexual abstinence and mutual fidelity.

Poblete said the government's policy is to let couples choose among birth control methods ? whether natural or artificial ? depending on their cultural or religious beliefs

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