By Czarina Nicole Ong Ki
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), through the Center for Gender Equality and Women's Human Rights (CGEWHR), has tied up with Power in Her Story - a feminist independent publishing house - in order to help give aid to marginalized women during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Since the beginning of the enhanced community quarantine, CHR and Power in Her Story have been busy with their relief drive. The CGEWHR helps by purchasing, packing, and distributing the care packages while Power in Her Story gathers donations from its partners.
Not only do they distribute the requisite rice, canned goods and instant noodles, but they also provide the women with an often-overlooked item - sanitary napkins.
The care packages have so far reached women with disabilities in Quezon City and poor women in Navotas, Tondo, and Del Pan in Manila. The women in Brgy. Holy Spirit, Payatas, Batasan Hills, Brgy. Commonwealth, and Wawa Montalban have likewise received relief goods through the donation drive.
Even hospitals and other institutions have not been forgotten such as the Haven Shelter for Women and the Philippine National Police (PNP) - Women and Children Protection Center (WCPC) since they have been provided with sanitary napkins as well.
The CHR reported that it has distributed over 1,018 care packages, and it is now in its 5th wave of distribution. In line with the Commission's 33rd founding anniversary on May 5, they are planning to give aid to stranded overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Tondo, fire survivors in Malabon, Payatas, and Batasan Hills.
They are also reaching out to the families in Bulacan and the mountains in Montalban.