CWR's annual campaign Move to Mob went to Polytechnic University of the Philippines to discuss the link between violence against women and mental health.
Stand with the Palestinian resistance for freedom and self-determination!Long live international solidarity!
On the occasion marking one year of Al-Aqsa resistance, the Center for Women’s Resources (CWR) stands in unwavering solidarity with the women and people of Palestine. The ongoing genocide and violence perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces, enabled by the material and political support of imperialist powers—particularly the United States—must stop.
To date, more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of whom are women and children. The occupation has not only robbed lives and futures but has also sought to quell the resistance of the Palestinian people that spans decades. Today, we recognize the immense courage and resilience of those who resist, including women and children, who continue to fight for liberation and justice despite being targeted by Israeli violence.
Today, we reaffirm our commitment. Let us nurture and expand our collective solidarity and actively support the Palestinian resistance and aspirations for freedom and self-determination. Long live the Palestinian resistance! Long live international solidarity! #
On the World Day for Decent Work, we condemn the ongoing attacks against trade unionists and labor organizers. The Philippines remains a perilous environment for those advocating for workers’ rights, where killings, abductions, and harassment continue unabated, including women labor leaders and organizers.
According to the 2024 Global Rights Index of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the threat of violence persists against Filipino workers and unions, where there is “no guarantee of rights” and are “exposed to autocratic regimes and unfair labor practices”.
The red-tagging and intimidation faced by the leaders of the Nexperia workers’ union illustrate this situation. For years, union leaders have been subjected to relentless surveillance and harassment, with union president Mary Ann Castillo among those targeted. Nexperia workers union has been organizing workers and fighting against unfair labor practices, and union-busting.
In 2021, Teresa Dioquino, a cultural worker and labor advocate, was illegally arrested, and is currently imprisoned. Dioquino is a staunch activist and has long served as International Officer of the Kilusang Mayo Uno, fighting for global workers’ rights. On May 3, 2022, Loi Magbanua, a labor organizer and women’s rights activist, was abducted and remains missing, presumed taken by state forces.
These forms of persecution demonstrate a concerted effort to stifle dissent and suppress workers’ rights. The enactment of the Anti-Terror Law and continuing funding of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has made it all worse.
As we mark this day, we stand together in solidarity to protect and defend those who fight for decent work – against exploitative practices, for living wages and labor rights. We enjoin all Filipinos in the collective fight to ensure that every worker can speak out without fear and threat of violence. No decent work without freedom of association and the right to organize!
The Center for Women’s Resources condemns the government’s attempt to artificially lower unemployment numbers by considering Filipinos work one per ‘reference period’ as employed – an insult to 20 million economically insecure women.
CWR reiterates the importance of using grounded and accurate data when formulating policies related to employment and poverty. The recent statement from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) during the Senate committee hearing and budget deliberations suggesting that a Filipino working just one hour a day qualifies as employed is a concerning simplification that obscures the real extent of the employment crisis in the Philippines.
In a recent survey conducted by CWR in June 2024, it was noted that the job crisis remains one of the top concerns of women. This indicates that unemployment, loss of livelihood, and its resulting poverty and hunger is a serious problem — a violation of women’s rights. Amidst an escalating economic crisis and widespread human suffering, it is of utmost importance to surface concrete, ground-level data that accurately depicts the conditions people face.
Despite the obvious attempt to give false sense of economic development, no amount of convenient redefinitions can mask the lived experiences of Filipinos. Blurring the lines between employment and unemployment through such convenient definitions does not address these issues. Similar to NEDA’s statement claiming PhP64.00 pesos to suffice for daily food cost, it fails to reflect the severity of economic hardship experienced by many, particularly women. It refrains the implementation of meaningful solutions that will ensure long-term, sustainable growth and people-centered development.
CWR reiterates that grounded data and evidence should serve as a basis for crafting economic policies that serve the most marginalized. Doing otherwise would only serve the interests of a few rich in the country. CWR urges all Filipinos to resist accepting such misinformation and to continue voicing their real conditions and demands. ###
The Center for Women’s Resources (CWR) stands with disaster victims, women’s organizations, climate activists, and rights groups in holding the state accountable for its role in the destruction and displacement of communities, livelihood, and environment. The government’s support for large-scale mining companies, prioritization of corporate interests, and neglect of its responsibilities to the Filipino people have left many in a dire state.
While still reeling from the impacts of Typhoon Carina (Gaemi), only a few weeks ago, the Philippines has been hit with another disaster. Typhoon Enteng (Yagi) caused massive floods and landslides in many areas of the country. This relentless cycle of climate disasters hit women and children the most. With limited or no access to basic social services and resources, they are particularly vulnerable to displacement, joblessness, and health and safety risks.
Recent tragedies highlight this vulnerability. In Rizal, a mother, who was about to go to work in the middle of a storm, lost her home and two sons in a landslide. Another landslide in the same province claimed the life of a pregnant woman who was expected to give birth this month. In Bicol, a 9-month old infant drowned.
The massive infrastructure projects the Marcos Jr. administration shamelessly funds and supports make these communities increasingly prone to climate disasters. Despite this reality, a huge sum of funds in the proposed 2025 national budget have been allocated to further fuel destructive projects instead of assistance and services to mitigate and respond to these disasters. Large-scale mining and quarrying projects run rampant which ultimately destroy communities making them even more vulnerable to devastation.
CWR enjoins all Filipinos to continue to demand swift government action and assistance, and at the same time, hold duty bearers accountable for their neglect of these responsibilities. We urge everyone to scrutinize the 2025 national budget and demand allocations that benefit the most vulnerable. Together, let us ensure that every peso of the people’s money will be allocated to services that benefit the most marginalized, rather than serving narrow interests of a few. #
* CWR alongside other grassroots and civil society organizations is initiating relief efforts to provide immediate aid to families affected. We appeal to compassionate individuals and organizations to join us in supporting those in need. For those who would like to contribute, you may contact us at cwrgrl@gmail.com or 0953 478 0468.
On the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared, the Center for Women’s Resources (CWR) joins the families and friends of the disappeared, advocates and human rights defenders, in renewing the calls to end involuntary disappearance and human rights violations in the Philippines.
Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND) documented 2,586 reported victims of enforced disappearances in the country since the dictatorship of Marcos Sr. To this day, 1,183 have yet to be found.
Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s legacy of human rights violations lives on through his son with 38 reported cases of enforced disappearances only two years into his presidency. This includes Elgene Mungcal, Lyn Grace Martullinas, and Deah Lopez – women human rights defenders who dedicated their lives in pursuit of social justice.
The most recent case involves environmental defender Rowena Dasig, who has been missing since August 22, 2024. She was arrested and detained on July 12, 2023, by the 85th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in Quezon while doing community research. On August 13, charges against her were dismissed due to lack of evidence. She was reportedly released from the Lucena City District Jail on August 22, but no one has seen or heard from her since.
Despite the enactment of the Anti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance Act – the first of its kind in Asia, activists and human rights defenders are at risk of abduction and disappearance. The Marcos Jr. administration, which presents itself as a champion of human rights in international spaces, is culpable for the continuing attacks against human rights defenders and widespread impunity. The number of desaparecidos continues to rise and justice is yet to be served.
These desaparecidos, who are usually political activists, human rights defenders, and leaders of labor unions and peasant organizations, are from the poorest sectors of society who have been systematically marginalized and are left with no choice but to protect themselves and their rights in the different forms available to them.
We demand that the national government address the crisis—the very issue that compels women and the people to rise up to defend their lives and rights—rather than undermining the freedoms and security of individuals and organizations. Such actions only cause distress to families and communities and ultimately erode public trust in the institutions meant to protect and serve.
The Center for Women’s Resources condemns all forms of enforced disappearances and human rights violations. We join organizations and individuals in supporting victims and their families in their quest for justice, to ensure that such violations are never tolerated, and in holding the current and past administrations accountable for their crimes against the people.Uphold and respect the rights and dignity of human rights defenders! Surface all victims of enforced disappearances!
