7 OUT OF 10 LAID OFF WORKERS ARE WOMEN

January 29, 2009

Reference: Emmi de Jesus, Secretary General, 371-2302, 0917-3221203

7 OUT OF 10 LAID OFF WORKERS ARE WOMEN

Women’s Group Alarmed at Further Vulnerability of Women

Women comprise 70 to 80 per cent of the Filipino workers currently being retrenched due to the impact of global financial crisis. This was according to GABRIELA National Alliance of Women.

GABRIELA based their conclusion on the data of Philippine Economic Zone Authority in 2005 that 75 to 80 per cent of workers in export processing zones are women. Currently, most of the establishments closing down or laying off workers are from the electronics industry in export processing zones.

Data from the Department of Labor and Employment shows that in Region IV alone, a total of 10,344 workers in Calabarzon were displaced from October 2008 to January 19, 2009.

“This is extremely alarming for the already handful of Filipino women in formal employment,” said Emmi de Jesus, secretary general of the militant women’s group GABRIELA. “We can only imagine how anxious the remaining EPZA workers with neighboring factories closing down one after another.”

De Jesus also said that the women in the informal sector are also affected by the global financial crisis. “With the massive loss of jobs, less and less households can afford to hire house helpers or avail of services of laundrywomen or other odd jobs women take on to cope.”

“This further job dislocation of women is ominous because it also portends of further vulnerability of women to sexual exploitation,” added De Jesus.

According to De Jesus, a study done by Center for Women’s Resources, a research institute for women showed that women workers desperate to keep their jobs tend to overlook, tolerate and even accept sexual advances of superiors or employers.

“Furthermore, crises always mean a boom for the illegal sex trade with the influx of women desperate for livelihood. For example, in Taiwan alone there are more than a thousand OFWs who lost their jobs and 90 per cent of them are women. With the Philippine government encouraging these workers to stay put in Taiwan for possible future employment, it is not unlikely that some of them will fall prey to sex trade,” said De Jesus.

“The current devastation in the lives of the Filipino working class women is the undoing of the Arroyo government. No amount of so-called relief packages can mollify the impact of global financial crisis. The only way out is for comprehensive social change starting by extricating our economy from the stranglehold of trade liberalization impositions.”###

WOMEN UNITE AGAINST ISRAELI ATTACK ON PALESTINIAN PEOPLE

MEDIA STATEMENT

14 January 2009

Reference: Emmi de Jesus, Secretary General, 371-2302 / 0917-221203

The women of GABRIELA National Alliance of Women stand in unity with the international community in condemning the Israeli invasion of the Gaza strip.

The vision of hundreds of wounded and lifeless Palestinian children strewn in Gaza is beyond heartbreaking. In each and every woman, the death, destruction and overall human suffering in Gaza should stir rage against the governments of Israeli and the United States . From generation to generation, the Israeli government repeatedly attacks with impunity the Palestinian people and the United States government inspires and supports such inhuman acts of massive proportions.

The current aggression of Israeli troops in Gaza has resulted, so far, in the death of 910 Palestinians, 292 were children and 75 were women and the wounding of more than 4,000 others.

This unspeakable violence against the Palestinian people is not unlike the attacks waged against peoples in the name of political and economic control over sovereign nations. Wars of aggression, within which the culture of violence is intricately webbed, victimize women and children most. In the recent past it has happened in Afghanistan and in Iraq and in Mindanao in the Philippines . Displacement, dislocation, hunger, rape and other forms of sexual violence are suffered most by women and children.

Filipino women must stand together with all freedom-loving people of the world in protesting this recent violation on the lives and sovereignty of the Palestinian people and demand for the immediate pull out of Israeli troops in Gaza and put and end to the death, destruction and overall human suffering Palestine

Public Information Department
GABRIELA National Office
(+632) 3712302

GABRIELA USA Denounces Political Killings and Abductions

For Immediate Release

December 10, 2008

Reference: Joanne Alcantara, GABRIELA-USA, National Coordinator (206) 859-7525, email gabrielawomen@gmail.com

GABRIELA USA Denounces Political Killings and Abductions

Philippine Government Must Honor the Human Rights of Philippine Women

Today, on International Human Rights Day, GABRIELA USA, a national alliance of progressive Filipina organizations and overseas chapter of GABRIELA Philippines, demand that the current administration uphold the rights of Filipinas across the globe. Since Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's presidential term started in 2001, over a thousand activists have been killed and abducted in the Philippines, many of them women who advocate for the rights of the Philippine people. Several investigations by Filipino and international organizations, including the United Nations, have been published and reported, asserting that these human right violations are being sanctioned by the current administration.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was drafted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1948, proclaiming that human rights should be protected by the rule of law. Article 3 states that all people have a right to life, liberty and security of person. In blatant disregard of this tenet, the Philippine government denies its people this basic human right by continuing the persecution of progressive individuals and organizations.

Another horrifying example is the current war in Mindanao, conducted by the Philippine army with the assistance of U.S military under the guise of the War on Terror. This ongoing assault have killed, maimed and displaced thousands of innocent civilians. Women and children, especially, suffer from the trauma of watching their loved ones being killed or taken away, in addition to being forcibly removed from their homes, as well as contracting illness due to lack of adequate shelter, food and health care.

Article 5 of the Declaration asserts that "no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment." A direct violation is the case of Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño, two student activists who were abducted in 2006. Sherlyn and Karen were reported to have been brutally tortured and raped by their captors in military camp. Although they are believed to have been killed, they their bodies have yet to be surfaced for a proper burial, leaving their loved ones in a perpetual state of despair, unable to put their hopes and fears to rest. Two years have passed, and the perpetrators of the heinous crimes against these women are still at large. As the commander-in-chief of the Philippines army, it is President Macapagal-Arroyo's duty to put a stop to its current repugnant practices and follow the standards set by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

As community leaders here in the United States, the women of GABRIELA USA are deeply concerned about the case of the 72 activists from the Southern Tagalog region, referred to as the ST 72. Fabricated charges of arson, conspiracy to commit rebellion, multiple murders and multiple frustrated murders have been placed against 72 workers, lawyers, researchers and grassroots leaders, 20 of whom are women. Among these figures are GABRIELA Southern Tagalog Secretary General and Gabriela Women's Party Nominee Helen Asdolo and GABRIELA Provincial Coordinator for Cavite, Amelita Sto.Tomas.

Valerie Francisco, Chair of Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE, NYC) declares, "Arroyo. Aquino. Marcos. Torture, imprisonment, and abuse of the Filipino people's basic human rights have been a historical occurrence. The real people who have created such injustice, should be the ones imprisoned. From the corruption issues of $329 USD million NBN-ZTE Deal; $ 503 USD million Northrail Project; P 728 million Fertilizer fund scam to almost a thousand extrajudicial killings and over 200 illegal abductions. Who are the real criminals of our society?" Francisco continues, "Those speedy warrants should have not been towards those 72 community members in the Southern Tagalog, those warrants should be towards Arroyo and her cronies who have been plaguing the Philippines with their corruption."

Despite her reign of terror, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will be giving her administrative order on human rights from Malacañang today, adding isult to those who have suffered under her rule. GABRIELA-USA, consisting of babae in San Francisco, Pinay Sa Seattle and Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment in New York, asserts that the current government, which is becoming more and more a military dictatorship, need to be held responsible for their crimes against the people. That Macapagal-Arroyo should dare declare an order on human rights, when her hands are drenched with blood of innocent civilians, is not acceptable.

STOP THE POLITICAL KILLINGS AND ABDUCTIONS OF OUR LEADERS!

DROP ALL CHARGES AGAINST ST 72!

FREE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!

JUSTICE FOR CADAPAN AND EMPENO!

OUST GMA NOW!

U.S. OUT OF THE PHILIPPINES!

Babae Urges Obama to Keep Campaign Promises and Reverse Bush Foreign Policies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 5, 2008

Contact: Marisa Mariano, Babae San Francisco, 415.333.6267, chair@babaesf.org

On the morning of this historic presidential election, Babae San Francisco acknowledges the renewed vigilance of the people of the United States in their demand for change. Let's take this time to not only recognize the historical significance of Senator Barack Obama's win for working people and all people of color in America, but to also serve as a reminder, as Obama himself stated, that our work does not end in this election.

The fight between what's best for the majority of people in America versus the rich minority will continue with this new Administration if not held accountable. As evidenced by the approval of the $700 billion dollar bailout of banks using taxpayer money, Babae recognizes that both Democratic and Republican parties exist to do the bidding of the corporate elite of this country.

Amidst a global financial crisis, a war that has ravaged our citizens for almost six years, unprecedented high rates of unemployment, and rising prices of basic commodities, America is indeed in need of change, and Senator Obama's electoral campaign was forged on the promises of fulfilling these changes. As Senator Obama begins this new journey forward as the next president of the United States, Babae encourages everyone to stand vigilant in ensuring that his promises are fulfilled. We must hold our new president accountable to our demands, and this can only be achieved by being involved and informed. "Our civic duties go beyond the polling booths," says Marisa Mariano, Chair of Babae. "We must organize ourselves into action if we want a different tomorrow. Obama has definitely inspired many people to believe that change can occur, but it is up to us to make that change happen, now that he's been elected."

Senator Obama has called to bring the troops home from the war on Iraq. Babae hopes that he will also do the same for the troops currently stationed in the Philippines. With $12 billion taxpayer dollars spent on this war in 2008 alone, Babae hopes this new administration will put a stop to US military aid to Philippines and instead, spend the money towards building sustainable universal healthcare for its citizens and improving our educational system as promised. To date, the Philippine government has received $30 million dollars of US military aid, even after United Nations reports of human rights violations committed by the Philippine military against the Filipino people.

It is only when the needs and interests of a country's citizens are prioritized can a true democracy be attained. As we move forward with a new president, Babae anticipates many challenges ahead and will keep a vigilant eye with hopes that the new Obama Administration reverses the broken economic and foreign policies of the Bush Adminstration and promote genuine peace and prosperity for all people around the world.

###

Babae SF endorses Prop B! Housing For All!

Prop B would create an Affordable Housing Fund of approximately $33 million each year for the next 15 years to be spent specifically on building affordable housing for the working poor and middle class people of San Francisco. 75% will be used towards the building of new housing, and 25% is for renovation, rental assistance, homeownership, etc. This does not mean an increase in taxes; it will create a set-aside fund of existing property taxes.

No On PROP 8!

No On PROP 4!