Philippines Brief – Closing the Justice Gap for Women with Intellectual and/or Psychosocial Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific

Abstract

This document summarizes the results of a legal needs survey of women with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities in the Philippines, and provides recommendations on how to improve the justice journeys of these women.

The legal needs survey asked women with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities about everyday legal problems they may be facing and how they resolved these problems – including whether their legal decisions are respected by legal professionals and other actors in their lives, such as family and
community members.

In total, 46 responses were received from the Philippines: 35 respondents identified as having a psychosocial disability, five respondents identified as having an intellectual disability, one respondent identified as having both an intellectual and psychosocial disability, and one respondent identified
as having another or different type of disability.

Respondents in the Philippines predominantly identified legal problems relating to Health (14 per cent), Education (11 per cent), and Violence (11 per cent). Examples of the problems faced include being unable to afford medication, delays in receiving medical care, being unable to achieve the desired level of education, bullying, and violence inside the home.