Group denounces ‘anti-women’ government
Staunch advocates of women's rights in Cebu trooped yesterday to Fuente Osmeña Circle to denounce the abuses and violence against women, especially those committed by the government and the police.
In celebration of the International Women's Day yesterday, the women's rights advocates, including women's party-list group Gabriela, are calling on the public to "rise against fascism, resist tyranny, and unite for justice and peace."
Dr. Leny Ocasiones, Gabriela-Cebu Chairperson, lamented the “alarming” number of cases of violence against women and children. Mocking women and making lewd remarks against them are forms of violence, she said.
“We see an administration that is anti-women. We heard of his (President Rodrigo Duterte) remarks. He ordered to shoot female members of NPA (New People's Army) in their genitals. He even said that he will offer virgins to foreign investors. During the election, he also made a rape remark,” Ocasiones said.
“They say it's a joke but language is very powerful in shaping and influencing our minds and actions. If the president can say that, how much more with those under him? He is the highest ranking official in the country so he should serve as a role model,” she told The FREEMAN at the sidelines of the women's commemoration dubbed “One Billion Rising Revolution Solidarity 2018.”
The “one billion” global movement represents the one billion girls and women worldwide who are said to be victims of abuses and violence, said Ocasiones.
In the Philippines alone, she said, there were 34,143 cases or reported incidents of violence and abuses against women based on last year's data from the Philippine National Police.
In 2017, the Department of Social Welfare and Development also recorded 381, 907 cases labeled as “women in especially difficult circumstances.”
Aside from violence against women, the cases include distressed overseas Filipino workers, human trafficking, and illegal detained women, among others, Ocasiones said.
She said among the government's abuses affecting women is the implementation of Tax Reformation for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law.
“It causes a grave impact to marginalized women who may be forced to prostitution because of poverty. Women are very much vulnerable to abuses with the recent policies and neo-liberal attacks by the government,” she said.
Ocasiones has urged women to stand up against anyone that curses, shames and incites violence against them, and to stand up for their rights.
“Women should rise and resist without being mocked. There is even Chief Justice (Maria Lourdes) Sereno who spoke against the administration but is being attacked now. We have to unite and have a collective stand against these anti-women attacks and violence,” she said.
“It's is very clear what is happening now. We have to take a stand and make our views known… Women have to realize that they have their own strength to speak up and make a stand and should not be mocked,” she added.