Gearing up to pursue women’s human rights under Marcos Jr.

A mothers’ day activity and a post-election discussion

It was on May 31 that women, young women, men advocates and LGBT members gather to honor women and discuss expectations and scenarios under the new government.

Kaisa Ka will be operating on a radically changed context. The Philippine election was just concluded. On June 30, Marcos Jr. will be installed in office. Knowing fully well the record of the first Marcos government, women and other human rights defenders are wary. The older women leaders know fully well the part of history when the Marcos regime was overthrown by people power. This generation of women know the human rights violations committed during the Marcos era.

We also discussed the immediate impact on the Philippine economy of a changing geopolitical landscape and the continuing power play among big economies and capitalist powers. The Ukraine – Russia war that led to the economic sanctions imposed by US and the West on Russia has its adverse repercussions. Food shortage is already felt globally. The Philippines, which has been dependent on food importation will surely be hit by this food crisis.

It is unfortunate that the celebration of Mothers’ Day of Kaisa Ka could not get away with the discussion of negative events that will be affecting women and poor people in their numbers. But we deem it best to inform the organization of this bleak realities so it will be better armed and informed as it proceeds to the challenging task of women organizing.

The workshops provided the venue for women to interact, analyze, dream and aspire and propose actions on how to keep the women movement going especially under adversarial conditions.

The activity ended with the collective recognition of women’s power, of mothers’ unconditional love for their children, of their community engagements, and of their heightened resolve to resist and persist even under difficult times.

Young women, men women rights advocates, and members of the LGBT community are one in the resolve to pursue rights and interests of women, young women and trans people.

Author: kaisakanorthluzon

Kaisa Ka is a women's organization focus on grassroots women. We fight discrimination. We work for economic justice. We make women voice matter. We advocate women's and human rights.

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