Women led by Gabriela protested on November 25 at Mendiola in Manila to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW). This also marked the first activity for the One Billion Rising Philippines (OBR PH) campaign with the theme “Women of the World, Rise Against Corruption and Fascism!”

At the protest, women from poor communities, organizations of farmers, workers and youth, and victims of violence danced as part of the OBR campaign.

Women from Gabriela-Southern Mindanao in Davao City and Gabriela Southern Tagalog in Crossing, Calamba, Laguna launched similar protests.

According to Gabriela, corruption is linked with the violence women experience every day. This can be seen in the lack of adequate health services for pregnant women, lack of access to social services, widespread unemployment and absence of livelihood programs, as well as the increasing military budget used to terrorize communities that resist oppression.

“The state meets the people’s rightful outrage with violence. Protesters are violently arrested, communities are militarized, and those who expose corruption are red-tagged and charged with fabricated cases,” Gabriela secretary general Clarice Palce explained.

“Women in Mindanao are exasperated with being constantly flooded only with water but also with debt. Facing one disaster after another while struggling with rising prices of basic goods is also a form of violence against women, especially the poor,” Gabriela-SMR secretary general Rose Hayahay said.

Women leaders in Southern Tagalog are victims of intimidation, harassment, and illegal arrests. The 2nd Civilian-Military Operation unit filed fabricated cases against Gabriela Women’s Party fifth nominee Miriam Villanueva and two other members of the organization for opposing militarization. The 59th IB also arrested and filed fabricated cases against Pauline Joy Banjawan. AFP aerial bombings and strafing subject women and children in the mountainous areas of Rizal, Quezon, and Mindoro to terror and anxiety.

The group stated that violence against women will only completely end after changing the entire social system that allows corrupt and fascist structures—including the domination of imperialism, feudal exploitation, and bureaucrat capitalism—that bind the people, especially women, to poverty.

“We will not stop until the rotten system that oppresses and impoverishes women ends! We call on all women and the people to join the growing movement for genuine change, for a society free from exploitation, oppression, corruption, and all forms of violence against women and children,” Palce declared.