by CWEARC | Aug 9, 2023
Happy World Indigenous Peoples’ Day!
CWEARC joins the global commemoration of World Indigenous Peoples Day 2023 with continuing confidence in indigenous women as instruments of change for self-determined sustainable development in their communities, in the face of rising challenges.
The national situation including the pandemic compounded pre existing vulnerabilities of women, as well as their marginalization. In 2022, the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap ranked the Philippines 19th worldwide in terms of closing the gender gap, sliding down from 16th in 2020. The Gender Gap Index looks at gender parity in four dimensions: economic participation, opportunity, health and survival and political empowerment. Low participation in the labor force and the plight of women during Covid lockdowns are the primary reasons for the drop in ranking. While the WEF has reported that Philippine ranking rose again to 16th in 2023 due to increase in political participation of women, this is attributed largely to the number of elected women during the elections, which does not automatically translate to addressing the needs of poor and marginalized women. The other dimensions in political participation are equally important, especially at the grassroots level.
In 2022 as well, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that in CAR, women’s labor participation is lower compared to that of women (4 women in every 10 workers), further qualifying that most employed women were laborers or unskilled workers. The PSA added that agriculture remains as one of the sectors where women’s presence and contribution is still unacknowledged, with women farmers often ignored in the provision of credit, agricultural services and training opportunities.
On health and social services, CWEARC emphasizes the need for services and interventions that address the needs of women in especially difficult circumstances (victims and survivors of sexual and physical abuse, illegal recruitment, prostitution, trafficking, armed conflict, women in detention, victims and survivors of rape and incest and other related circumstances) as well as mental health needs of women, which is essential and urgent in present times.
We believe that political participation of indigenous women, especially on issues of land rights, can only be achieved if they are free from the threats and dangers of judicial harassment, terrorist tagging, and other forms of discrimination and human rights violations. Only then can they effectively participate politically for interventions that will address their situation, such as lobbying for local implementation of the Mental Health Law and the Magna Carta of Women.
CWEARC humbly contributes in addressing the women’s situation through its programs on Women’s Mental Health and Psychosocial Support and Women’s Rights Support, in partnership with the women in communities, barangay local government units and professionals. These are but support services we commit to indigenous women in the region, as we recognize that full realization of their rights as well as that of their communities are theirs to claim through self-determination.
by CWEARC | Dec 22, 2022
Our heartfelt gratitude to the speaker, reactors, cultural performers, and participants of the Public Forum on the Maharlika Investment Fund on December 22, 2022 at the Multipurpose Hall, Baguio City Hall. The livestream of the forum can still be watched through:
https://fb.watch/hFjmn3lLhE/
Thank you very much. We look forward to your participation in the upcoming events.
𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿: 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗮 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱
Human Rights Lawyer and Legislator
𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀:
Prof. Geri Gatawa
Faculty, School of Accountancy, Management, Computing, and Information Sciences, Saint Louis University
Prof. Renz Venielle L. Lamayo
Assistant Professor of Economics, University of the Philippines Baguio
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆:
Beneco – Benguet Electric Cooperative
Union of Faculty and Employees of Saint Louis University (UFESLU)
Cordillera Women’s Education Action Research Center, Inc. (CWEARC, Inc.)
by CWEARC | Apr 2, 2020
Cordillera Women’s Education Action Research Center, Inc. (CWEARC) denounces the red tagging and vilification of the Philippine National Police (PNP) through its Facebook pages “Pnp Rmfb Wolverines” and “Kapulisan ng Kalinga” on CWEARC’s campaign to support the frontliners in our country’s battle against the COVID-19 virus.
On March 31, 2020, both pages posted a publication material that blatantly red tagged CWEARC. PNP grabbed CWEARC’s #TieARedRibbon poster and accused the campaign as a deceptive strategy of organizations affiliated with terrorist groups to ask for donations that they claim will not reach the frontliners. In this manner, the PNP is identifying CWEARC as an affiliate organization of terrorist groups, specif
ically the CPP-NPA/NDF.
CWEARC is a grassroots-oriented, non-profit, non-government development organization that provides support to various Cordillera women’s formations, particularly indigenous women’s groups, in organizing, educating and providing direct social and economic support services. It was established on March 8, 1987 by indigenous peasant women, urban poor, workers, youth, professionals, and women from religious institutions. This year, it celebrates its 33 years of building the capacity of Cordillera women in upholding their rights and welfare.
17 days since President Rodrigo Duterte declared the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), public and private hospitals still struggle to provide extensive services to both patients and non-patients of COVID-19 and at the same time, provide sufficient supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for their health workers and volunteers. With the lack of support for our health workers and volunteers, we have seen them face the COVID-19 battle unprotected and now, many of them have succumbed to the virus.
As a result, individuals and organizations all over the country launched the Tie A Red Ribbon campaign in support of COVID-19 frontliners and in recognition of the selflessness of those who have perished. CWEARC then published a poster on its Facebook page on March 26, 2020 to encourage everyone to join the campaign by tying a red ribbon outside their homes. The said post never asked for donations of any kind. Its only purpose is to boost our frontliners’ morale and to show them that we are one with them in demanding proper decisive government action to fight this pandemic.
CWEARC stresses that the campaign is a gesture to support our frontliners and it is not an act to aid terrorist groups. The posts of the PNP are highly deplorable! It tarnishes the purpose of the campaign and the organization, and has the malicious intent of vilifying CWEARC. When an individual or organization is vilified, they become open targets of various forms of human rights violat
ions. In this time of a global pandemic, the PNP still finds time to shamelessly vilify legitimate organizations that are initiating programs for the benefit of our country. For an institution that should “Serve and Protect” its constituents, instilling fear on organizations and the community is utterly irresponsible. Instead of wasting productive time, we call on them to redirect their indiscriminate red-tagging campaign resources to more appropriate actions in line with their mandate. Where is your solidarity with the frontliners of COVID-19?
CWEARC will not be daunted by the PNP’s baseless and malicious accusations. We will persist on raising our voices and forward the demands of the nation to directly address the current international health emergency. We will carry on to be in solidarity with variou
s networks in actively giving aid to indigenous communities and groups adversely affected by the current crisis in the Cordillera. In fact, CWEARC is exerting efforts presently to support our frontliners and vulnerable sectors, as many organizations and individuals are doing presently.
We give our highest salute to fallen health workers and volunteers. May you all rest in power. To our health workers and volunteers who continue to persist in this battle, we send our prayers.
Kasiyana, we shall overcome!
