Women lead us the way out!
A Solidarity Statement on the occasion of the International Women’s Day 2018
Women are central and pivotal in the production, reproduction and revolutionary processes since society existed.
MindanaOne would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the feminist and women movement in Mindanao, the Philippines and the world.
Historically, Women’s day started as a radical expression of women workers in the 1900s demanding voting rights, better pay and shorter working hours. In the Philippine and Mindanao contexts during the anti-colonial to anti-imperialist revolutions to anti-dictator Marcos, women are at the forefront
In the Philippines today, women workers are facing labor contractualization, sexual abuses, unjust and unfair working conditions aside from the new impositions of the tax reform introduced by the Duterte administration that impacted to the rise of prices in basic commodities and services. Instead of fulfilling its campaign promise to end labor contractualization scheme it preferred to consult the capitalists. Women in the economic processing zones are kicked out as they asserted to form unions to claim and protect their rights. Overseas women workers continued to suffer injustices and abuses from their employers abroad and even victims of illegal trafficking in the country while the government continued to encourage labor exportation. One can just imagine the social costs and difficulties experienced by these workers.
In Mindanao, it is becoming difficult for the women and girls in the rural communities affected by the wars and displacements. Corporate interests implemented by the very own government and agencies collaborating with the capitalist’s agri-businesses and extractive projects targeting ancestral lands of Indigenous Peoples and the Bangsamoro.
Abandoning government’s duty to promote social justice left out small farmers and food producing sectors from the priorities of the government and even more hit by the corporate dominated economic system. And this added more difficulties to women and mothers that mostly takes charge in household matters.
Ecological and humanitarian crises have worsened women’s situation. Their lives in the refugee camps and or evacuation centers are so bad and miserable while they are not given enough space for participation in rebuilding their lives and communities.
At home and even in the work places, abused to women’s rights persisted. And this is reinforced even by the misogynist pronouncements by the very President Duterte. It only showed how this current government see women as sexual subjects. Despite, it was the women to voice out first their opposition to mass killings and human rights violations under the Duterte administration.
From homes, communities to work places women are victims of abuses, exploitation and oppression.
As always, women and feminist movements are capable of fighting back. Across social and mass movements we are witnesses of important and leading roles that women and girls played from confronting the situation to offering concrete alternatives.
Women’s day is a celebration for the movement’s victories and continuous struggle for gender, social and climate justice. MindanaOne stands with the women across the world in their struggles.
We join all women and girls in the fight for equality, human rights and dignity; social, gender and climate justice; food sovereignty; rights and welfare as workers and food producers; and dignified society.
Thank you women for leading us the way out!
MindanaOne
March 7, 2018
katipunanmindanao@gmail.com
