The April 28 Coalition [for Migrants’ and Refugees’ Rights and Welfare]* staged its 3rd Online Forum – Protest focusing on Refugees and Refugees Situation on June 6. This protest is a continuation of the series of actions as the Coalitions continue to call for the granting of full citizenship rights for all migrants, refugees and displaced peoples among other things.
The program included series of speeches from an invited speaker and two reactors, interspersed with chanting of the Coalition’s calls and cultural presentations. Majed Abusalama, a member of the Palestine Speaks Coalition-Berlin was the Speaker. Being born in a refugee camp in Gaza open air prison, he later become and still is, a staunch human rights defender and an award winning journalist. As a refugee himself, he narrated his long and continuing journey of being with grassroots organisations of mainly POCs and Palestinians in advancing the fight for basic human rights, and their enduring call for a free Palestine. He reiterated the need for a radical change, to push the boundaries and mobilise for more grassroots movements to attain our basic rights.
Abusalama’s inspiring at the same time challenging speech was followed by a heartfelt poetry reading by Nora Rajab, also a member of the Palestine Speaks Coalition Berlin. The poems she read were written by Mahmoud Darwish, a famous Palestinian poet and intellectual. They captured the persistent longing of many displaced Palestinians to return to their homeland and lead a simple normal life, as well as their spirit and determination to fight for it.
Phil Butland from Die Linke Berlin Internationals, in his reaction, agreed that many Refugees in Germany are from Palestine. In fact, he says many are already displaced more than once. According to him, there have been a rise of anti-racism demonstrations in Berlin. He was in a huge Black Lives Matter demonstration in Berlin as he delivered his statement, and noted that it is highly multi-racial and the biggest he had seen so far. He is hopeful that people will continue to see where the world is really going and the need to get together to change this course.
The second reactor is George Porgetto from Free African Movement. Porgetto drew a lot from his own long experience of a decade long struggle be it in the parliament or in the streets. He criticized that the very institutions that legislate policies and laws fail to heed the rights and welfare of migrants and refugees. He likewise emphasized the importance of uniting together in order to win the struggle.
As a synthesis, Yasmin Ahmed of Revolutionaire Einheit echoed that most people who migrate are forced to do so or displaced not on their will. She furthered elaborated the sorry state of Refugees in different European Countries and the need to work together to change these.
The Forum Protest ended with a reverberating chanting of the demands of the Coalition: Full Citizenship Rights for ALL Migrants and Refugees, GRANT NOW! Bail Out Migrants, Not Corporate Giants, and Long live International Solidarity!
*The April 28 Coalition [for Migrants’ and Refugees’ Rights and Welfare] is a broad Europe-wide formation composed of mainly grassroots organizations with a migration background, together with religious and non-governmental organizations, civil society formations, institutions, political parties, influencers, academics and concerned individuals.
It is united by the common objective to advance the rights and welfare of migrants (regular and irregular), immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced peoples, and that all people have the right for equal protection in the continent. It was launched online on April 28 itself, and to date it has grown into 72 Organizations and 18 Individuals. The official Facebook page is : https://www.facebook.com/April28Coalition/
Greetings of solidarity to all, friends and fellow migrants! We, in Migrante Europe an alliance of Filipino migrants’ organization in Europe, strongly adhere to the call by the organized farm workers for unconditional regularization. We commend your militant initiative for this general strike and for bringing the voices of the “invisible” migrants, immigrants and displace people in the forefront of the up-coming regularization law in Italy.
Like other ”invisible” people, Filipino undocumented migrants and immigrants all over Europe, are strictly suffering from the havoc of this pandemic. In Italy alone, of which an estimated of 20,000 undocumented migrant workers are left without or minimal assistance from our own government. They were even left out of any assistance from the Cure Italy decree of the Italian government, of which only documented and regular workers can avail.
We migrants and immigrants share the commonality on the root cause of migration. We recognize our right to migrate for a humane future, for us and our family and this is our fundamental rights. What we are experiencing now is beyond our rights. Migration now becomes a force choice for us to conserve our human dignity as a person. We flee and migrate for there is war of aggression in our country. We flee and migrate from having an environmentally torn country caused by multinational mining and exploitation. We flee and migrate from a despotic and tyrannical rule.
Like you, Filipinos are forced to leave and seek for a better future, but these choice is more driven by the systematic policies of our own government. Ever since, our government knew that it can profit not only from the raw materials that it exports but also from the remittance of Filipino migrants, it then brought into policy the continuous bargain of Filipino workforce abroad.
Labor export policy as we call it, have made Filipinos a mere product, a simple commodity on which to exchange and profit from. In 2019 alone, our government had profited an enormous 29 billion dollars from our remittances. More than 10 percent of the total 105 billion population of Filipinos are dispersed globally. Before the pandemic, 7,000 Filipinos leave our country everyday to work abroad. This situation is strengthen by the implementation of neo-liberal laws and policies dictated by imperialist countries to our own government, thus leading to local mass unemployment, inequity, social injustice and poverty. Yet, they neglect their duties on their service to the Filipino migrants.
Thus, we join your call for the immediate unconditional regularization of undocumented migrants/immigrants and displaced people. The pandemic of Covid-19 must not be only a pretext for a humane treatment of all irregular and undocumented migrants. Human rights must be the base of any regularization. We could talk of a vaccine from the disease in six months to a year from now, but if the migrants remain irregular and without access to a proper health care, it is useless.
We share your sufferings and we unite with you in pursuing the rights of other “invisible” people that also taking part for the economic building and development of any host country. We further call for decriminalization of irregular and undocumented workers and stop the neoliberal policies dictated by the imperialist countries.
“Regularization and full citizenship rights for all migrant workers, refugees and displaced peoples”
“Universal right to health and public health for all and not private profit!”
“Stop Criminalizing Migrants and Stop Deportation!”
“End Neoliberal Policies in Third World Countries! Stop Imperialist Domination!”
Messaggio di solidarietà sullo sciopero generale dei braccianti (Italia) – 21 maggio 2020
Un saluto di solidarietà a tutti, amici e compagni migranti! Noi di Migrante Europe, un’alleanza dell’organizzazione dei migranti filippini in Europa, aderiamo con forza all’appello dei braccianti per una regolarizzazione incondizionata. Elogiamo la vostra iniziativa militante per questo sciopero generale e per aver portato le voci dei migranti “invisibili”, degli immigrati e degli sfollati in prima linea nella prossima legge di regolarizzazione in Italia.
Come altre persone “invisibili”, i migranti filippini senza documenti e gli immigrati di tutta Europa soffrono rigorosamente del caos di questa pandemia. Solo in Italia, di cui si stima che circa 20.000 lavoratori immigrati senza documenti siano rimasti senza o con un’assistenza minima da parte del nostro Governo. Siamo addirittura esclusi dall’assistenza del decreto Cura Italia del Governo italiano, di cui possono usufruire solo i lavoratori regolari e documentati.
Noi migranti e immigrati condividiamo con voi la causa principale della migrazione. Riconosciamo il nostro diritto a migrare per un futuro umano, per noi e per la nostra famiglia e questo è il nostro diritto fondamentale. Quello che stiamo vivendo ora va oltre i nostri diritti. La migrazione diventa per noi una scelta di forza per conservare la nostra dignità umana come persona. Fuggiamo e migriamo perché nel nostro Paese c’è una guerra di aggressione. Fuggiamo e migriamo da un paese ambientalmente lacerato a causa dell’estrazione mineraria e dello sfruttamento multinazionale. Fuggiamo e migriamo da un Governo dispotico e tirannico.
Come voi, i filippini sono costretti ad andarsene e a cercare un futuro migliore, ma queste scelte sono maggiormente guidate dalle politiche sistematiche del nostro stesso Governo. Da allora, il nostro Governo sapeva di poter trarre profitto non solo dalle materie prime che esporta, ma anche dalle rimesse dei migranti filippini, ha poi portato in politica il continuo affare della forza lavoro filippina all’estero.
La politica di esportazione del lavoro ha fatto dei filippini un semplice prodotto, una semplice merce di scambio e di profitto. Solo nel 2019, il nostro Governo ha beneficiato di 29 miliardi di dollari americani delle nostre rimesse. Più del 10% dei 105 milioni della popolazione totale filippina è dispersa a livello globale. Prima della pandemia, 7.000 filippini lasciano ogni giorno il nostro Paese per lavorare all’estero. Questa situazione è rafforzata dall’applicazione di leggi e politiche neoliberali dettate dai paesi imperialisti al nostro Governo, portando così alla disoccupazione di massa locale, all’iniquità, all’ingiustizia sociale e alla povertà. Eppure, essi trascurano i loro doveri al servizio dei migranti filippini.
Quindi ci uniamo alla vostra richiesta di una regolarizzazione immediata e incondizionata dei migranti/ immigrati senza documenti e degli sfollati. La pandemia di Covid-19 non deve essere solo un pretesto per un trattamento umano di tutti i migranti irregolari e senza documenti. I diritti umani devono essere alla base di ogni regolarizzazione. Potremmo parlare di un vaccino contro la malattia tra sei mesi e un anno, ma se i migranti rimangono irregolari e non hanno accesso a un’assistenza sanitaria adeguata, è inutile.
Condividiamo le vostre sofferenze e ci uniamo a voi nel perseguire i diritti di altre persone “invisibili” che partecipano anche per la costruzione e lo sviluppo economico di qualsiasi paese ospitante. Chiediamo inoltre la depenalizzazione dei lavoratori irregolari e senza permesso di soggiorno e la cessazione delle politiche neoliberali dettate dai Paesi imperialisti.
“Regolarizzazione e pieni diritti di cittadinanza per tutti i lavoratori migranti, rifugiati e sfollati”
“Diritto universale alla salute e alla sanità pubblica per tutti e non al profitto privato!”
“Stop alla criminalizzazione dei migranti e stop all’espulsione!”
“Porre fine alle politiche neoliberali nei Paesi del Terzo Mondo! Stop alla dominazione imperialista!”
The Human Rights violations in the Philippines have also affected members, collaborators and volunteers of PFTC, partner organization of Altromercato since 1991, on several occasions.
Agreeing with the article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights – “Everyone has the right to freedom of expression” – and with article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights – “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression”, we appeal for the charges to be dropped against the 42 Human Rights activists arrested on May 1, 2020 by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Iloilo City and released on bail on May 2nd, 2020.
The activists were only exercising their Constitutional Rights by meeting at the Jaro Cathedral to demand justice for Jory Porquia, killed at dawn on April 30th, 2020. Altromercato strongly condemned this terrible murder and asks that executors and instigators be brought to justice. On April 30th, 2020, the name of Jory Porquia was added to the long list of victims of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.
Jory Porquia, longtime activist for the defense of the environment and Human Rights, was also the architect who designed the mills for the organic Mascobado sugar, produced and exported by PFTC. Since 1991 Altromercato sells PFTC’s Mascobado sugar in Altromercatoshops and in several supermarkets throughout Italy and in some European countries.
Jory’s is yet another murder perpetrated to affect the activity of PFTC (Panay Fair Trade Center), a strong network of 5 cooperatives, whose activities benefit over 10,000 families on Panay island in the Philippines. PFTC’s “fault” is having freed many small farmers from the dependence and exploitation of landowners. Not only has PFTC improved the living conditions of more than thousands families on Panay island, but they have also carried out empowerment and awareness-raising programs, highlighting social and political issues and working for a democratic and sustainable development.
The arrest of the forty-two peaceful activists, Elmer Forro, Mary Adrivene B. Dalida, Julrod Prino, Meriam Agbas, Mars Geraneo, Vivian Asong Apolinar, Alma Sumague, Rea D. Ogoy, Ana Marie G. Primalion, Ruth O. Alinsangao, Jocelyn S. Gabion, Pergerie P. Panila, Sheba Q. Babac, Dave I. Cordero, Sharon Rose Nabua, Tessie C. Garachico, Inecitas A. Ruedas, Ruben P. Obrero, Ronalyn G. Pronelos, Bonifacio M. Casipong, Edgardo A. Salarda, Saturnino Pitos, Jose Ely Garachico, Valiant Pabelona, Arjie Ertaleza, Krisma Nina Porquia, Crimson Labinghisa, Gabyel Rei T. Guillen, Randy Vergara, Marites Pinolan, Jean Tondo, Paz Garachico, Kervin Bonganciso, Bryan Bosque, MC Mace Sulayao, Marco Sulayao, Nelson Licoto, Ma. Preva Lhuz Cerdanio, John Marlon Jacar, Arnel Catedrilla, Lucia Fernandez, Francisco, Angelo Karlo Guillen, is a violation of citizens’ Constitutional Right to peaceful assembly and to freedom of expression.
These events occurred on the same day workers worldwide celebrated International Labour Day, and while the Philippines and the whole world are in the grip of the Covid19 pandemic. In compliance with the protocols to contrast the Covid19 pandemic, the activists duly observed “social distancing” rules and were exercising their Constitutional Right to a peaceful assembly, affirming their freedom of speech and expression.
The Bill of Rights guaranteed by the Philippine Constitution in 1987 establishes that: “No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.”
Sign this appeal in order to ensure that the forty-two peaceful Human Rights activists will be cleared, thus permitting them to go back to their work, their duties and their commitments to Human Rights.
The International Migrants Alliance – Europe (IMA-Europe) – a grassroots-led regional formation of organizations of and migrants, immigrants, refugees and displaced peoples – joins the world in its fight to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic exposed not only the flawed global health care systems of even the highly industrialized countries and their satellite states, but also laid bare the bankruptcy of capitalist neoliberalism and the need for system change. The inevitable collapse of financial markets and loss of jobs, personal incomes and life savings are causing untold anguish and panic around the world. A deep global depression is imminent.
file foto of Jon Bustamante
We salute all the health workers and other frontliners, substantial numbers of whom coming from migrant and immigrant communities, who daily expose themselves to the risk of infection to serve those in need. We express our highest respect for those who have already fallen in the course of their service, and we mourn for the tens of thousands who have succumbed to the sickness.
Among the victims of this pandemic are destination countries with a dense population of migrants, refugees and displaced people. Grassroots organizations and their service providers from these communities are calling for access to social and health services and protection for these vulnerable groups most often overlooked by government policies responding to the COVID-19 crisis.
Many migrants, refugees and displaced peoples are also left to their own devices to procure personal protective equipment that can protect and safeguard their health, if they even have the means to get it. With the ‘users pay’ in place even on health services, they shoulder the expenses for individual protection given their meager salary and the increasing support they have to send to their families back home who are also facing similar difficulties due to the pandemic and government policies or lack of it.
In these difficult times, especially worrisome are the conditions of undocumented migrants who were already vulnerable even before the outbreak. Members of the IMA-Europe have reported that undocumented migrants in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium and in other European countries where there is a highly militarized response to the crisis, fear being accosted and/or arrested on the streets for not having the proper identification, stay and work permits if they need to go to work or buy their provisions. This compounds their fear and anxiety of losing substantial ‘no-work no-pay’ income and the threat of losing their jobs.
file foto of Jon Bustamante
But because of the pandemic, there is now an even more urgent crisis in the shortage of health workers and a dire need for them in many European countries including Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK. Deals are being brokered between many sending countries and EU member states to bring in nurses and health workers, farm and other frontline workers in order to respond to the shortage. And yet when they are brought in to do the same kind of job as local workers, they are paid less. They are also required to go through stringent requirements before they are given resident and citizenship rights. At the same time, discrimination, xenophobia and hate crimes are being fanned by rightist groups especially against Asian migrant and refugee communities who are unfairly profiled as virus carriers.
In the UK, Ireland and Spain, undocumented migrant workers and asylum-seekers, including those with professional medical training are already being recruited to work in care homes and hospitals in response to the medical emergency. In recognition of the vulnerable situation of these workers, Portugal*1 granted full citizenship rights to all migrants and refugees to allow them access to health care and financial aid during the pandemic. A similar call for temporary regularization of undocumented migrants is being made by French parliamentarians.
As we face the pandemic, we need to strengthen the solidarity among migrants, refugees and displaced people with workers and the local population in receiving countries and in the sending countries. We need to continue the fight not only against the virus but also against forced migration, capitalist exploitation, and imperialist plunder and aggression.
file foto of Jun Bustamante
We need to call on policy-makers to ensure that during this pandemic, vulnerable communities of migrants, refugees and displaced people are protected and afforded social and welfare assistance in recognition of their sacrifices and contribution towards alleviating the current global health crisis. The International Migrants Alliance (IMA)-Europe calls on all solidarity allies and friends of migrants, refugees and displaced peoples to demand –
– Regularization and full citizenship rights for all migrant workers, refugees and displaced peoples in the pandemic frontlines of Europe, ensuring their access to equal workers’ rights and social and welfare benefits, NOW!
– Equal access to health care, social and welfare assistance to communities of migrant, refugee and displaced peoples during the pandemic!
– The right to family reunification of migrants, refugees and displaced people!
– Universal right to health and public health for all and not for private profit!
– Bailout WORKERS, not multinational corporations!
– Sign and ratify ILO ( International Labor Organization) Domestic Workers Convention 189!
LONG LIVE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY!
International Migrants Alliance (IMA) – Europe Zaria Galliano Chairperson
*1 Schengen Visa Info, 2020. Portugal Grants Migrants and Asylum Seekers Full Citizenship Rights During COVID-19 Outbreak, www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/portugal-grants-migrants-and-asylum-seekers-full-citizenship-rights-during-covid-19/ Accessed, 13 April 2020.
Migrante Europe joins the global protest to condemn the barbaric killings of 14 farmers during the pre-dawn raids of Philippine National Police in Canlaon City and Manjuyod and Sta. Catalina towns in Negros province last Saturday 30 March 2019.
No one deserves to be killed in such a barbaric, inhuman and perverted manner! Not to these helpless poor farmers! We demand an immediate independent investigation and immediate freedom for those arrested!
Among the victims of the bloody massacre were Edgardo Avelino, 59, farmer, a resident of Sitio Carmen, Brgy. Panubigan, and chairperson of Hukom (Hugpong Kusog Mag-uuma sa Canlaon); his younger brother Ismael Avelino, 53 habal-habal (tricycle) driver, a resident of Sitio Carmen, Brgy. Panubigan and a member of Hukom and the Nagahuisang Mag-uuma sa Panubigan Namapa; Melchor Pañares, 67, farmer, a resident of Sitio Tigbahi, Brgy. Bayog; and his son Mario Pañares, 46, also a farmer; Rogelio Ricomuno, 52, farmer, a resident of Sitio Manggata, Brgy. Masulog-1; Ricky Ricomuno, 28, farmer; Gonzalo Rosales, 47, farmer and a resident of Proper Brgy. Pula; and Genes Palmares, 54, farmer, a resident of Proper Brgy. Aquino.
Habal-habal driver and peasant leader Franklen Lariosaand Anoj Enojo Rapada were killed in Sta. Catalina town. In Manjuyod,among those killed were Velentin Acabal of Brgy. Kandabong and Sonny Palagtiw of Brgy. Pansiao, both barangay captains in their villages; Steve Arapoc and Manulo Martin.
Fifteen others were arrested, including local Gabriela leader Corazon Javier, and Azucena Garubat, treasurer of Nagahuisang Mag-uuma sa Panubigan.
But in interviews with human rights workers, the families of the killed and arrested described scenes like what Metro Manila’s poor have witnessed in three years of President Rodrigo Duterte’s harsh crackdown on street peddlers and users of narcotics.
Filipinos in Milan
Police officers had their faces covered and, in at least one attack, wore eye shades in the dead of night. They ordered other people out of their homes. Suspects were already cornered, unarmed, and then shot dead as soon as kin were out of sight.
The husband of the arrested treasurer of Nagahuisang Mag-uuma sa Panubigan, Azucena Garubat, claimed cops planted two grenade launchers in their home. The local office of rights group Karapatan gave ABS-CBN News access to their notes.
San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, whose diocese covers the affected towns, said some of those killed belong to the church’s mission station in Masulog. A lay minister of Canlaon parish was among those arrested and some were not shown warrants.
OFW in Belgium
End the harassment, persecution, illegal arrest and killing of human rights defenders, organized farmers and workers. Immediate freedom for those illegally arrested!
The crackdown against farmers under Duterte government intensifies.
More than 50 human rights defenders – mostly peasants or indigenous persons – have been killed since President Duterte assumed office in June 2016.
On August 23, 2017, Mr. Roger Timboco, a member of the peasant group KAMMAO (Kahugpungan sa mga Maguuma sa Maco ComVal), was shot dead in Mawab, Compostela Valley. Four days later, a member of Abante, a local organization of small-scale miners, Mr. Lomer Gerodias, was shot dead in Maragisan, also in Compostela Valley. Both killings were believed to have been carried out by Philippines soldiers and two others, Mr. Jezreel Arrabis and his wife Ms. Delia Arrabis, both members of the Farmers Association in Davao City on September 2, 2017.
In October 2018, armed men opened fire on a group of sugar cane farmers who were occupying part of the plantation in the city of Sagay, Negros Occidental killing nine, and then set three of the bodies on fire. Those who were killed were members of a farmer’s union, the National Federation of Sugarcane Workers; among them were three women and two minors.
UMANGAT Migrante Rome
The “Sagay 9” massacre was the eight massacres under the Duterte government, according to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Peasant Movement of the Philippines). This horrifying incident brought the number of farmer victims of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines in the last two and a half years to 172, 109 of whom were victims of extrajudicial killings related to land struggles and conflicts. Thirty-three of the 109 were killed in 2018, making the Philippines the deadliest country in the world for people fighting for their right to land and resources.
Justice for Negros 14! We stand with the farmers! Bigas hindi bala! For reference:
Revd Fr. Herbert Fadriquela Jr. Chairperson, Migrante Europe [email protected]
1st May, the International Workers Day, is not just a day to remember the past century’s achievements of the worker’s movement. More than 130 years after the worker’s revolt in Chicago, the realization of labour rights and social justice remains at the heart of our struggle and is a contemporary and urgent concerns.
The European Treaties adulate the market, austerity and neoliberal policies, breaking down workers’ conquests and attempt to diminish their victories by reducing pay, contributing to deteriorating working conditions, weakening collective bargaining and limiting workers’ and trade union rights. Neoliberal structural and market reforms impose more flexibility in the interest of the employers, less workers’ protection and weakening the trade unions.
The migrant workers and refugees suffer even more of the negative effects of the neoliberal policies as they are designed as scapegoating. This phenomenon aggravates racism and xenophobia within society which end up putting the working class against its own.
We, as progressive and ecological forces from all around Europe, support the struggle of the working people and the unions against the neoliberal attacks, as we strive for a better future for all the world’s people.
Workers and people need a Europe that abandons the profit-maximizing logic and puts people first. We need to start over on different bases and construct a Europe where solidarity trumps competition, and fundamental social rights trumps economic freedoms. Social dumping must end. Quality employment is necessary, not just minimum standards. Collective bargaining must be promoted and strengthened in order to increase wages and to improve working and living conditions.
Building a fundamentally different Europe requires that the current austerity policies and military build-up be ended and replaced by an economic policy focusing on public investments for sustainable growth, ecological transition and quality jobs, and by policies supporting peoples’ rights in all aspects of everyday life.
We will be present at activities and demonstrations on 1st May 2018. And we invite Trade Union representatives to participate actively in the next European Progressive Forum to be held from 9 to 11 November 2018 in Spain.
Marso 8, 2018, Pandaigdigang Araw ng mga Kababaihan, nakikibahagi ang Nagkakakaisang Pilipino sa Pransya o NPSP sa pagdiriwang na ito bilang pagkilala sa karapatan at kagalingan ng mga kababaihan. Pagkilala sa karapatan ng pagkakaroon ng disenteng pamumuhay sa sariling bansa at balang araw hindi na mapipilitang makipagsapalaran sa ibayong dagat para lamang buhayin ang pamilya.
Kinikilala namin ang bawat kababaihang matatag at matapang na humahaharap sa anumang hamon ng buhay. Lubos ang aming paghanga sa mga kababaihang nanatiling nakatindig at lumalaban sa iba’t-ibang isyung panlipunan sa loob at labas na bansa. Ilan sa mga dahilan ng aming pagtindig sa araw na ito ay:
– Para sa bawat migranteng ina na nawalay sa sariling pamilya upang itaguyod sila, patuloy nating ipinapanawagan ang sapat na trabaho sa loob ng Pilipinas, nakabubuhay na sahod at hindi ang pagtrato sa mamamayan bilang kalakal.
– Para sa bawat babaeng inabuso, biktima ng diskriminasyon, harassment at represyon sa kabila ng mapait na pinagdaanan sa marahas na lipunan ay patuloy na sumusulong para itaguyod ang kanyang kapakanan, mga pangarap at karapatan.
– Para sa bawat babaeng pinagkaitan ng sariling pagkakakilanlan,at nagiging biktima ng marahas na kamatayan katulad na lang ni Jennifer Laude at ibang trans women na patuloy na minamaliit at ipinakakait ng patriyarkal na lipunan, susulong kami kasama mo
– Para sa kabataang makabayan katulad ni Myles Albasin sa gitna ng pasistang paghahari. Nagpupugay kami sa inyong kahandaang maglingkod sa masang Pilipino at kasabay ng paghanga ay ang pakikiisa namin sa ating mga panawagan.
– Para sa babaeng bagani at mga babaeng namumuno sa kanilang mga komunidad upang ipagtanggol ang lupang ninuno katulad ng lumad lider na si Bai Bibyaon Ligkayan Bigkay
Ang malaking bilang ng kababaihang migrante, malayo man sa bansa ay patuloy na nagsisikap upang makabalik sa sariling bayan. Sa araw-araw ay tangan namin ang pangarap ng disenteng pamumuhay, seguridad at kasaganahan hindi lamang para sa aming sarili bagkus maging sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Ganap lamang itong makakamtan at maisakakatuparan sa pagsusulong ng pagbibigay lunas sa ugat ng pwersahan at malawakang migrasyon patungo sa ibayong dagat.
Mabuhay ang bawat migranteng kababaihan!
Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino!
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8 mars 2018, La journée internationale des luttes des femmes et des minorités de genre:
Nagkakakaisang Pilipino sa Pransya o NPSP lors de cette célébration en reconnaissance des droits et du bien-être des femmes. Reconnaître le droit à une vie décente dans le pays d’origine et un jour ne pas être contraint de s’aventurer à l’étranger pour simplement vivre sa famille.
Nous reconnaissons chaque femme forte et courageuse qui fait face à n’importe quel défi de la vie. Nous sommes profondément impressionnés par les femmes qui se soulèvent et se battent dans diverses questions sociales à l’intérieur et à l’extérieur du pays. Nous nous sommes ici réunis :
– Pour chaque mère migrante qui est s’éloignée de sa famille pour pouvoir subvenir à leurs besoins, nous continuons de réclamer un travail décent, aux Philippines, avec des salaires suffisants et un traitement humain.
– Pour chaque femme maltraitée, pour les victimes de discrimination, de harcèlement, qui, malgré une société violente et répressive, continuent de progresser pour promouvoir leur bien-être, leurs rêves et leurs droits.
– Pour chaque femme qui manque de reconnaissance et qui est souvent victime de mort violente, comme Jennifer Laude et d’autres femmes trans qui sont fréquemment rabaissées et privées par la société patriarcale, nous avancerons avec vous.
– Pour une jeunesse patriotique comme Myles Albasin au milieu du régime fasciste. Nous saluons votre volonté de servir les masses philippines et, mis à part notre admiration, nous nous unissons à vous pour poursuivre nos causes.
– Pour les femmes qui président leurs communautés pour défendre les terres ancestrales telles que le leader autochtone Bai Bibyaon Ligkayan Bigkay.
Le grand nombre de femmes migrantes, loin du pays, continue de s’efforcer de retourner dans leur pays d’origine. Chaque jour nous sommes les mains du rêve d’une vie décente, de la sécurité et de la prospérité non seulement pour nous-mêmes mais aussi pour chaque famille philippine. Cela ne peut être accompli et réalisé en luttant contre la cause profonde de la migration forcée et de masse vers l’étranger.
On the occasion of the International Women’s Rights Day, we, organizations and personalities from the Marseille European Forum, commit ourselves alongside women who, throughout the world, have taken the floor against patriarchal domination and for equality.
The global feminist wave, under the name of “Me too” or “Time’sUp”, but also the courageous struggles of Polish, Spanish and Croatian women against reactionary governments who wanted to prohibit or reduce the abortion right, indicate that our societies are ready to fight to defend the rights of women, and also to win new conquests.
The struggle for gender equality is an emancipatory fight as fundamental as social, democratic, peaceful and ecological issues. It must be a priority within the European Union and in Europe’s relations with the world. This implies a cross-cutting policy that takes into account all aspects of life, from equal wages to setting up public services that free up women’s time and safeguard their health. It also implies the ratification and the effective implementation of the Istanbul Convention, and the protection of migrant women who, under the current regime of inhospitality in the Union, are plagued by trafficking and the most regressive forms of violence and slavery.
Because this ideologically-driven policy requires us to break with the austerity and precariousness of work, with militarism and fortress Europe, we believe that the unity and convergences of women’s struggles are fundamental to change Europe.
We will actively participate in the initiatives of 8 March 2018, and call, as a continuum, that the feminist organizations of Europe make their demands heard and share their experiences at the next European Progressive Forum to be held from 9 to 11 November in Spain.
[Rome, Italy] Italy-Philippine Friendship Association joins the call to Free Rafael Baylosis and all political prisoners!
Last Sunday February 25, 2018 the Italy – Philippine Friendship Association (Comitato di Amicizia Italo-Filipino) held a successful discussion forum on current national situation in the Philippines.
Luciano Seller president of IPFA read the Association’s statement for the immediate release of Rafael Baylosis and All Political Prisoners.
They have express the condemnation for the continuous human rights violations and political persecution that is happening in the Philippines and called for the continuation of the Peace Talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
A video presentation of the association’s last year activities was also viewed and leaders from other Italian and Migrants organizations had expressed their solidarity for the Association and the struggle for just and lasting peace for the Filipino people.
FREE RAFAEL BAYLOSIS AND ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!
PEACE NOT WAR!
CONTINUE THE PEACETALKS AND RESOLVED THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ARMED CONFLICT!
