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A STATEMENT BY THE ASIA PACIFIC WOMEN'S WATCH*

We, the women in Asia Pacific Region, support the call of the women of Burma for the Security Council to end impunity for systematic sexual and gender-based violence by the military regime through a referral to the International Criminal Court. The military junta in Burma routinely reigns by use of torture, gang rape of ethnic women, slavery, murder, mass imprisonment, and abduction of children to fill military quotas. The use of SGBV against ethnic women has been documented by women from Burma in multiple reports. Such actions go far beyond a repudiation of democracy; they are criminal violations of international humanitarian and human rights law including genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. We call on the UN Security Council to adhere to its commitments in Resolutions 1325 and 1820 and end impunity for sexual and gender-based violence in Burma by referring the perpetrators to the International Criminal Court./* */

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The Philippines may well be the pioneer in women's legislation in the Asia-Pacific region once the proposed Magna Carta of Women is approved by the two houses of Congress. Initiated by women and gender advocates who are active in the processes around the Convention on the Elimination on All Form of Discrimination (CEDAW), the bill aims to strengthen the existing constitutional provisions and special laws on gender equality and women's empowerment.

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National and international organisations and networks especially peace and women’s rights advocates, including the International Women’s Tribune Centre and Isis International have signed this open letter to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. They urge the UN to take pro-active measures in initiating peace talks between the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, taking into account the parties’ obligation to UN Security Council Resolution 1325.

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Feminists and other stakeholders consolidated a position in the upcoming Follow-Up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus in Doha, Qatar from 29 November to 2 December 2008.

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by the Malaya Lolas

We are the members of Malaya Lolas, the organization of surviving victims of mass rape by soldiers of the Japanese Imperial Army in Mapanique, Candaba, Pampanga in the Philippines. Our harrowing experience happened as part of a completely planned attack at our barrio (village) on November 23, 1944.

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by the Centre for Women's Resources

[Editor's Note: The “working poor” refers to the lived experiences of women and communities who are struggling to cope with the current crisis on food, fuel and other resources. Despite their honesty and hard work, many poor women and their families cannot improve the quality and dignity of their lives. This article from the Centre for Women's Resources is about the working poor.]

Left with no other option, 67 year old Nanay Olympia was forced to work as scavenger to help out her husband Ofring. Tatay Ofring, though already 75 years old, still drives a jeepney for a living. Yesterday's fare hike is no relief for Tatay Ofring who nowadays takes home as low as P40 after more than 15 hours of hard work since the unabated weekly oil price hikes.