In celebration of National Women's Month and with the midterm elections approaching, advocates are calling on Filipino voters to elect candidates who champion women's rights.

In a media forum hosted by Oxfam Pilipinas, Daryl Leyesa, project coordinator of the Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan, expressed hope that more candidates would address women's issues during debates.

"This is the challenge for them, as many candidates avoid discussing women's reproductive health, which is not a popular topic for most," Leyesa said.

She also urged the media to press candidates on their stance on divorce, abortion, and the SOGIE Equality Bill.

Addressing reproductive health in elections

Nandy Nenoc, executive director of the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines, noted that many candidates are reluctant to speak on reproductive health issues for fear of offending conservative groups, such as the Catholic Church.

"One strategy is continued voter education to introduce candidates who support family planning and reproductive health," Nenoc said.

Leyesa and Nenoc both called for a collective stand against regressive policies on bodily autonomy, emphasizing the need for stronger public health services, better protections for marginalized communities, and greater representation of women in decision-making positions.

Oxfam Pilipinas launches advocacy project

On Monday, Oxfam Pilipinas launched SHE Rises: Stories of Change from People and Communities of the Sexual Health and Empowerment Project, a collection of real-life stories highlighting grassroots efforts to advance reproductive health and rights.