By Caryl Gonzales

Women’s advocacy group Gabriela, together with Kilusan ng Manggagawang Kababaihan (KMK), launched a forum, “I vow to fight VAW (Violence Against Women),” to call for an end of VAW in the workplace and decent wages and respect for women’s rights to free association.

In commemorating International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women (IDEVAW), the workshop aimed to raise awareness of VAW cases, increase the number of anti-VAW advocates particulars among young and working women, and launch a campaign to abolish abuse against women.

“Inilunsad ang “I vow to fight VAW” dahil habang dumarami ang walang trabaho, lumiliit ang  halaga ng sahod at tumataas ang presyo ay mas lalong bulnerable sa karahasan ang kababaihan lalo na ang mga mahihirap at kabataan. Mas maraming kababaihang biktima ng abuso  ang napipilitang manatili sa marahas na relasyon dahil sa walang kakayahang pinansyal na suportahan ang kanilang sarili at mga anak,” Gabriela Secretary General Clarice Palce said.

["I vow to fight VAW" was launched because as unemployment increases, wages decrease, and prices increase, women are more vulnerable to violence, especially the poor and young. More women who are victims of abuse are forced to stay in violent relationships because they are unable to support themselves and their children financially,”]

Agricultural works, formal and informal workers, and women’s groups attended the said activity.

This aims to “build broad solidarity” among women workers and their defenders and prevent workplace abuse and violence.

Palce noted working women remained silent when being victimized in the workplace for fear of being fired, which becomes a bigger problem when there is “no mechanism in the workplace for them to report or when there is no union or organization that can defend them against various forms of abuse.”

Meanwhile, KMK spokesperson Lanie Buena emphasized National Minimum Wage, which amounts to P570, is “no longer sustainable.”

“Habang lumolobo ang bilang ng walang trabaho ay lalong binabarat ang sahod ng mga manggagawa… Malayong malayo sa P1,100 na kailangang Family Living Wage. Sasahod pero hindi sasayad sa palad ng manggagawa dahil hindi na makasabay sa taas presyo ng mga bilihin ang halaga ng sahod,” Buena said.

[“As the number of unemployed increases, the wages of the workers become more and more expensive... Far away from the P1,100 Family Living Wage that is needed. Wages will increase, but the workers will not be able to afford it because the wages will not keep up with the increase in the price of goods,”]

Gabriela and KMK urged workers to unite and fight for their right to a proper and decent workplace.

“Let's call on President Marcos Jr. to restore a decent national minimum wage, and for his government to uphold workers' rights, and for workers themselves to assert the right to freely associate— the right to unionize and for their grievances to be properly addressed.”

The women’s advocacy group will launch more workshops, including protecting women's human rights defenders and promoting safe spaces for women.