Women rise against human rights abuses

We, the women of Center for Women’s Resources (CWR), join the thousands of Filipino women in dancing, raging and rising against all forms of human rights violations today in Rajah Sulayman Park, Manila for the the seventh year of the One Billion Rising.

Attacks against women have not only continued but worsened under the misogynistic and sexist Duterte administration. Despite the claims of the Philippine National Police that crimes have decreased in 2018, reality remains that abuses have persisted. Based on the monitoring sheet released by the PNP in 2018, 2,962 cases of rape in the country have been recorded from January to May 2018 only, translating to almost 20 rape cases per day.

Misogynistic remarks from the president and his allies have continued despite protests from the public. Government officials and politicians have made fun of women and trivialize abuses, following the example of the president.

Threats and harassment of various forms against community leaders, activists, lawyers, church workers and media practitioners – men and women alike – are perpetuated under this government. As of November 2018, about 2,000 individuals have been illegally arrested and detained. To date, there are already 540 political prisoners, 203 of whom were arrested under Duterte’s watch, and 45 are women and 120 are sickly and elderly.

We condemn the audacity of this government to commit these grave abuses and get away unpunished. The culture of impunity has transformed into its worst form under this administration as the rich and powerful continues to get away with plunder, murder, and corruption.

We urge all freedom- and democracy-loving women to express rage and rise against the tyrannical rule and the unabated human rights attacks of this administration.

Center for Women’s Resources (CWR)