RAGE AGAINST RAPE: President Aquino Should Make a Firm Stand to End Violence Against Women (PR)

Press Statement
23 November 2010

Gabriela Women’s Party is enraged and deeply alarmed by the increasing incidents of rape in the country. We remember Jessica, a 25 year old woman, who was forcefully picked-up along Quezon Avenue and gang-raped by three men on September 23. There was the news about the two teen-age girls aged 14 and 17 years old who were raped in a resort in Negros Occidental on September 23. Then there is Nurse “Florence” who was raped in South Upi, Maguindanao on September 25 and who today, suffers from amnesia and is still recuperating from a recent surgery on her mandible. And there are hundreds more unreported cases because either the victim and her family were threatened by the perpetrator(s) or the victim chose to be silent because of the stigma of rape,” said Representative Emmi De Jesus.

“It is the responsibility of the state to protect the rights of its women. But the rise of rape cases indicates that perpetrators are emboldened because of the ineffective implementation of the Anti-Rape Law and other preventive and protective measures for women and girls,” added Representative Luz Ilagan.

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“GWP calls on government to push for the creation of Rape Crisis Centers in all cities and municipalities as provided by RA 8505, by providing sufficient resources from local and national coffers. GWP is also pushing for the review and amendment of the Anti-Rape Law to make it more effective in persecuting the perpetrators, including men in authority,” expounded De Jesus.

Rape is among the most brutal forms of violence againts women. Expressing outrage and raising public awareness about the need to eliminate all forms of violence against women while highlighting the respect for the dignity of women are essential factors in generating support and strength from the community.

“GWP reiterates that there is no better preventive and protective measure to stop all forms of violence against women and children than a government that is truly sensitive and firm in its commitment to the protection and prevention of violence against women,” stressed Rep. Ilagan.

REF: Rep. Luzviminda C. Ilagan
Jang Monte-Hernandez, media liaison officer
Rep. Emmi de Jesus
Rowena Festin-Valerio, media liaison officer