Gabriela Women’s Party Representatives Luz Ilagan and Emmi de Jesus expressed today their disappointment at the direction that deliberations on the Reproductive Health Bill are taking.

“We are wary that a population control measure is in the works. The discussions and debates on the Reproductive Health Bill are focusing less on ensuring the women and children’s access to free healthcare services and more on meeting demographic targets and ensuring women’s access to contraceptives rather than their full access to basic healthcare services,” said Rep. Luz Ilagan.  read more »

Gabriela women’s Party strongly condemns the increasing attacks of the Aquino government against human rights defenders through the recent arrest of Randy Vegas and Raul Camposano, members of COURAGE, an organization of government employees, and the filing of fabricated charges against 30 more individuals.  read more »

“Economic deprivation and political persecution are far worse forms of violence against women affecting more than 60% of the Filipino women population, on top of sexual and physical forms of violence. A million women could not find work and thousands of them are forced to leave their children and families to work in foreign countries. Three women were murdered in 2010 because of their political beliefs. Violence against women has taken on a new dimension with the increasing number of Filipinos having access to the internet.”  read more »

“Gabriela Women’s Party stands in solidarity with all women human rights defenders and all women victims of state violence under Aquino’s Oplan Bayanihan. The justness of Filipino women’s collective and active defense of human rights is the source of strength that protects them against continuing state vilifications and harassments. Women’s activism is vital as they effectively advance the rights of all people by challenging inequality and repression that breeds human rights violation,” said GWP Rep.  read more »

GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus questioned the “super body” which will investigate human rights violations, which includes the Defense Secretary, AFP Chief of Staff, and director general of the Philippine National Police.  read more »

The House of Representatives Committee on National Cultural Communities is set to invite the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples James Amaya following a motion by Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan at yesterday’s hearing. Present at yesterday’s hearing was Committee chairperson Rep. Teddy Baguilat and Reps. Nancy Catamco, Philip Pichay and Rafael Mariano (Anakpawis).  read more »

"The problem with the RH bill is that many house members are more concerned with the Catholic vote than the welfare of the women and children. As both the House of Representatives and the Senate hold the bill hostage, we continue to endanger the lives of marginalized women and children who cannot afford the spiraling prices of health care.  read more »

“Any woman or child who is battered, raped, tortured or incarcerated anywhere in the world, no matter what her skin color, belief or race, should be decried by the whole of humanity. As Filipino women stand up to fight violence against fellow Filipino women and children, including human rights violations and state repression, we should also stand up in solidarity with women across all continents who are victims of VAW.”  read more »