MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Tuesday applauded the Quezon City (QC) local government’s “Right to Care” card project, which allows same-sex couples to residents in the city make health care decisions for each other.
“CHR congratulates the local government of Quezon City for its efforts to make healthcare more accessible and inclusive for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) community by launching the Right to Care card. CHR said in a sentence.
“We commend your initiative in embodying the values promoted by the equal protection principles affirmed in the 1987 Constitution Bill of Rights and the Yogyakarta Principles, among others,” he continued.
Launched on June 24, the Right to Care card is a special power of attorney (SPA) document that authorizes same-sex couples to decide about the types of treatments, tests, and prescriptions their partners will receive.
The CHR stressed that this project, led by Mayor Joy Belmonte and creative agency MullenLowe TREYNA, is a monumental move for gender equality in the city, as medical facilities previously only accepted healthcare information from legal spouses of relatives. closest, excluding same-sex couples. The discussion.
“This is a commendable move that concretely recognizes autonomy and personal choice by giving LGBTQI couples the right to make medical decisions for their partners as needed. He recognizes his unique and intimate knowledge of his partner’s preferences, needs, medical history, support, among others,” the human rights organization praised.
“The initiative also ensures that the member is kept informed about the condition and progress of their loved one, which helps ensure access and confidentiality of information,” the CDH added.
The Right to Care program will initially run only in government hospitals within QC, but will soon expand to public and private QC-based hospitals once the respective partnerships have been sealed by the local government.
CHR also added that the Right to Care card specifically honors and protects queer couples in healthcare and legal matters, “thus preventing exclusion, discrimination, and denial of information or participation.”
In addition, the CHR notes that such legislation “would alleviate stress and anxiety during difficult periods of hospitalization by allowing LGBTQI members to contribute and actively participate in the care and well-being of their partner.”
The commission then called for more legislation to safeguard the rights of queer Filipinos across the country.
“To achieve genuine equality in society, accessibility to services, such as health care, among others, must be guaranteed regardless of gender and sexual orientation,” the CHR said.
“None other than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared that members of the LGBTQI community must be supported, respected and free from all forms of discrimination. We are hopeful that this will help push for urgent approval of the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression or Sexual Characteristics equality bill,” the ombudsman concluded.
RELATED STORIES
Right to Care Card for the LGBTQIA+ community unencumbered in QC
CHR probes frat hazing from minor
hee/abc
Your subscription could not be saved. Try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
read next
subscribe to ASK MORE to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer and over 70 other titles, share up to 5 devices, listen to the news, download from 4am and share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
For comments, complaints or queries, Contact Us.
