If there is something in our history that is still apparent to this day, it is without a doubt, misogyny, and the continued neglect of women's rights. This is evident in one finding by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) that the Philippine government "violated the rights" of Filipinas who suffered sexual abuse by Japanese soldiers during World War II.
Twenty-four members of the "Malaya Lolas" (Free Grandmothers), a group of elderly women, are among the victims of sexual slavery who were detained, beaten, raped, and abused multiple times in the Japanese headquarters during the war. The Malaya Lolas filed a complaint about how the Philippine government failed to offer them the necessary recognition, social support, and reparations, which resulted in "ongoing discrimination against them that persists to this day."
The Philippine government has been under pressure from these survivors to back up their demands from Tokyo to compensate them for the misery they endured while living under the Imperial Japanese troops.
In order to convince the Philippines to uphold its obligations under the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Malaya Lolas turned to CEDAW for support.
"Their repeated efforts, however, were dismissed by the authorities, with their last action being turned down by the Supreme Court in 2014. The Philippines’ government has always maintained that it is not in a position to claim compensation from Japan after ratifying the Treaty of Peace with Japan in 1956," the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), there will be 12,492 reported cases of violence against women in 2021. The violence towards a specific gender is infuriating already, but what is even more unfortunate and devastating about this is that these are just the reported cases. There are women out there who are for sure experiencing violence inside their homes, at their workplaces, and in their communities but are afraid to come forward due to a variety of reasons: victim-blaming, malicious threats, and the maddening neglect by authorities. There is also a cultural stigma against women who are victims of violence, which is another possible factor that discourages them from speaking up.
All of us, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, or status, have a claim to human rights. This includes the freedom from violence and discrimination, the right to the best possible physical and mental health care, the right to education, the right to their own property, the right to vote, and the right to a reasonable living income.
Nevertheless, many women and girls still experience sexism and gender discrimination on a global scale. Several issues that disproportionately affect women and girls, like domestic and sexual violence, lower wages, limited access to education, and insufficient healthcare, are rooted in gender inequality.
The Philippine government has long been infested with diseases—corruption, misogyny, incompetence, and neglect—that are still affecting the lives of its people. We learn and preserve history for the purpose of not repeating it in the present, but with leaders like those in Malacañang, the battle for equal human rights is still beyond the horizon.
The UN panel observed that there is still obvious discrimination against Filipina "comfort women" despite the Treaty of Peace.
"The committee observed that the Philippine Commission on Women had not addressed the institutionalized system of wartime sexual slavery, its consequences for victims and survivors, or their protection needs. In contrast, Philippine war veterans, who are mostly men, are entitled to special and esteemed treatment from the government, such as educational benefits, health-care benefits, old age, disability, and death pensions," it said.
Where is this energy for women? Why is it only men who are receiving such treatment?
According to CEDAW, the Philippine government violated its responsibilities under the convention by failing to put in place the necessary safeguards to end all discrimination against women and defend their rights "on an equal basis with men."
CEDAW demanded that Manila give complete reparations to anyone who had experienced sexual abuse, "including monetary compensation and a formal apology for the ongoing discrimination."
“This case demonstrates that minimizing or ignoring sexual violence against women and girls in war and conflict situations is, indeed, another egregious form of violation of women’s rights. We hope that the committee’s decision serves to restore human dignity for all of the victims, both deceased and living,” committee member Marion Bethel said.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) predicted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would not likely bring up the topic of Filipino "comfort women" during his visit to Japan in February.
The bar is extremely low for Marcos Jr., and yet he still manages to set it even lower. What has he accomplished so far as the 17th President of the Philippines? Nothing but disappointment, dismay, and economical punishment for the citizens of this nation. Marcos Jr. is only interested in the title and position, never the peace and progress of his countrymen. With his performance, one can expect that the future of women and children in this country is grim; having an incompetent and selfish man in the highest seat who serves only his own personal interests pushes people's lives into great peril.
Moreover, in the misogynist and prideful former President Rodrigo Duterte’s opinion, the subject of sexual abuse during World War II between the Philippines and Japan was already settled in 2018.
If you have been paying close attention to Duterte’s presidency, he is not one to trust. The fascist Duterte lies. He is nothing but a power-hungry fool. He had his allies and lapdogs close to him that supported and covered for all his foul behavior, misogynist attacks, and empty promises; for him to say that the issue has been settled should raise one's eyebrows. If it has indeed been resolved, why do the victims still feel abandoned and mistreated?
The late President Benigno Aquino III had also emphasized that, under the Reparations Agreement, Tokyo had already met its duties to Manila with regard to the matter.
What is common among these three presidents is that they are all men. The fight for women’s rights is the fight for human rights, but what is waiting for the survivors at the end of the tunnel if the very people they seek help from offer nothing? What the Malaya Lolas are fighting for is of graveyard importance. They have been forced to live their lives in misery and trauma. Hearing their calls for reparations and supporting them in their fight are the most human things to do—they are utterly right.
If the leaders of this country truly cared for the welfare of women, victims of sexual violence like the Malaya Lolas would have had justice in their hands already. The Philippine government and its justice system are consistent with one thing: they are a disappointment.
As we celebrate women this month, may we also be reminded to stand and fight for women’s rights. I am with and beside the Malaya Lolas, as well as all of the women who were victimized by the abhorrent rule of patriarchy, as they continue to struggle for their place in society. I am with them as they claim their right to be treated with respect and dignity.
And I can only hope, as a soul aching for a change in this nation, that you—with a voice and power in your hands—will also do the same.
Article: Marjorie Ann M. Patricio
Graphics: Timothy Andrei Milambiling
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