The Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women urged candidates seeking national positions to include measures to address the rising cases of violence against women and children (VAWC) in their electoral agenda.

Citing data from the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and Center for Women's Resources (CWR), Amihan said the prolonged lockdowns and worsening economic crisis resulted in an increase in abuse and violence experienced by women at home and at the hands of state forces.

PCW noted that before the pandemic, one in three women experienced physical or sexual abuse mostly by an intimate partner, while CWR recorded at least seven reported cases of state-perpetrated VAW since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 to 2021.

CWR also noted that there have been 56 police officers who have been involved in 33 cases of abuse against women, including 16 cases of rape during the first two years of President Duterte from July 2016 to March 2018.

“Duterte’s consistent misogynist remarks coupled his counter-insurgency measures and criminal negligence in his pandemic response made more women vulnerable to exploitation and violence. His macho-fascist character not only normalized but also intensified disregard for women’s rights and issues and the culture of impunity,” Amihan National Chairperson Zenaida Soriano said.

The group said there have been 45 peasant women victims of extra-judicial killings, while 65 out of 82 peasant women political prisoners, were imprisoned under the term of Duterte.

“Political candidates who have track record on human rights abuses and violence against women, including those who remained silent on these issues do not deserve the Filipino people’s vote. We should be inspired by the Mirabal sisters who resisted the Trujillo dictatorship and fought for democratic rights,” Soriano added.

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