SEVERAL rights groups on Monday, February 10, 2020, trooped to the grounds of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Quezon City to join the “One Billion Rising” global dance campaign to end violence against women and children.
Members of the Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) and the General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leadership, and Action (Gabriela) staged the dance protest to highlight the growing violations of women’s rights.
The campaign, which was launched on February 14, 2012, began as a call to action based on the staggering statistics that one in three women is beaten or raped during her lifetime.
According to Gabriela , one out of 43 women is beaten by her partner or husband every hour. There are 500,000 victims of prostitution in the country, 100,000 of whom are children.
Kadamay chairperson Gloria “Ka Bea” Arellano said the current spate of abuses perpetrated against their group are “deceitful and malicious.”
“One of the most common forms of attacks is extortion and intimidation for the urban poor to pose as rebel surrenderees and thereby come under the whim absolute of authorities. They are ordered to revoke their affiliation to any critical or progressive group-- Kadamay is comprised mainly of women, mothers specifically,” Arellano said.
“Mga babae na miyembro ng Kadamay ang kadalasang puntirya ng mga atake. Sila’y mga tinuring daw na ‘ilaw ng tahanan’ pero wala namang matirhan, at dahil lamang dito sila pa ang ginagawang target at tinatrato na parang kriminal,” she added.
Meanwhile, CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia commended the House of Representatives for approving House Bill No. 5869 which would expand the coverage of Republic Act (RA) 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act.
“It is important that laws are expanded or appealed to cope with new challenges faced by young individuals and women who face electronic abuse. The commission, as the Gender Ombud, welcomes this bill and hopes that the Senate expedites the passage of this bill to ensure that the internet remains a safe space for all members of the vulnerable sector," De Guia said. (SunStar Philippines)