Activist actress Monique Wilson joins Gabriela in calling for the end to the impunity in cases of violence and abuse against women and children. ARIES JOSEPH HEGINA/INQUIRER.net
Women’s group Gabriela on Wednesday lamented that justice remains elusive for women and children who are victims of abuse and violence.
Gabriela was joined by about a hundred women and their children from various parts of Metro Manila in a program at the Bonifacio Shrine in Manila to commemorate the National Day of Consciousness for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
In a symbolic action condemning violence and abuse, some of the women wore duct tapes over their mouths with words such as “rape” and “impunity.”
“Impunity exists because social structures that should ensure the protection of women and children from violence do more harm by being indifferent and even anti-women,” Gabriela Secretary General Joms Salvador said.
READ: End all forms of violence against women
Salvador said that it was during the administration of President Benigno Aquino III which registered the sharpest increase in the number of women victims of violence: from 9, 974 in 2010 to 31, 937 in 2014.
In her speech, Gabriela Women’s Party-list Representative Emmi de Jesus slammed the Aquino government not only for the alarming rate of women and children abused under its watch but also for its acts which supposedly burdened the plight of women such as inaccessible social services, the K to 12 program, and the demolition of shanties.
“Malinaw na ang ating paglaban ay dapat din nating ituon sa isa sa pangunahing nagdadala ng abuso at karahasan at iyon ay ang estado.”
(It is apparent that we should direct this fight to the state, which is one of the primary purveyors of abuse and violence.)
“Ang araw na ito ay isang pagtatala ng ating tuloy-tuloy na paglaban. Isasama natin sa ating paglaban sa abuso at karahasan ang ating mga pamilya, ang ating mga anak para sa tuloy-tuloy na tagumpay,” de Jesus said.
(This day signals our continuous fight. We should include in our cause against abuse and violence our families and our children so that we may ensure continuous victory.)
Also present during the program were stage actress and activist Monique Wilson and former Sexbomb dancer Sugar Mercado.
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The program commenced with a caravan which started at the Quezon City Memorial Circle. During the program proper, song and dance numbers were held. Participants were even taught some basic self-defense techniques.
.@inquirerdotnet @GabrielaWomenPL teach women here basic self-defense techniques. #IDEVAW pic.twitter.com/O0DQYoB4Cs
— Aries Joseph Hegina (@AHeginaINQ) November 25, 2015
November 25 is commemorated annually as the National Day of Consciousness for the Elimination of Violence against Women by virtue of Republic Act 10398 which was passed into law in 2013. The said law urges government offices, schools, and communities to conduct activities which will raise awareness in eliminating violence directed against women and children. IDL