One of the things that AI members do is write letters, courteous letters to authorities in countries where human rights abuses are occurring, pointing out that these actions conflict with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other obligations that the countries have accepted. We let them know that they are being watched.

The case below is one of many that Amnesty activists in Newfoundland and around the world are working on right now. You too can help in this effort at no more than the cost of a postage stamp. Every letter counts: even if you receive no reply it does not mean that your efforts have gone unnoticed.

If you would like to do more, please contact us (click here for details).


 

PHILIPPINES


Finding the courage to leave


Marita's husband hit her when she tried to refuse sex. He once demanded sex while holding a knife to her throat.  After 15 years of marriage and nine children, 34-year-old Marita feared further pregnancies.

Her husband was jealous when she came home late, after long hours of selling food to earn a meagre livig as the entire family's provider. When he could not find regular work, he beat her even more. He burned her arms with cigarettes. She has lost almost all her teeth from constant assaults. When he started to beat the children too, Marita left her husband, taking them with her. She was fearful thet her eldest son might begin to fight back. So far, she has resisted all her husband's efforts, through threats and promises, to persuade her to return.

Strict moral standards are applied to women in the Philippines. They are expected to be docile and subservient within the family and intimate relationships. The widely held beliefs in the sanctity of marriage make it very difficult for women to leave abusive relationships.

Support from a women's organization helped Marita find the courage to leave her husband, Hers is just one example of how a dynamic and committed network of human rights and women's rights organizations  is making a difference in the Philippines, by helping survivors, lobbying for reform, and organizing awareness-raising, education and training aimed at women's empowerment.

Lobbying by women's groups helped to bring about new legislation on sexual violence in 1997. Previously, rape was described as a "crime against chastity". A woman who was raped had to prove that she did not willingly surrender her virginity. In a landmark Supreme Court decision in 2000, a woman sentenced to death for killing her husband had the sentence commuted and her case re-opened.  However, there is currently no law against domestic violence, although one is pending, funds for gender-based projects are inadequate, and existing laws designed to protect women are not properly implemented.


From The Activist, published for AI members in Canada, March/April 2004.


Please write a letter to the government of the Philippines to:


• Support vigorously the speedy enactment of the Anti-abuse of Women in Intimate Relationships Bill and other bills to strengthen women's rights
• Ensure that the five percent of the national budget earmarked for gender issues is fully utilized and that legislative reforms already enacted are effectively implemented.
  


 

SAMPLE LETTER President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo President of the Republic of the Philippines Malacañang Palace J.P. Laurel Street San Miguel 1005 Manila Philippines Dear President Macapagal-Arroyo, I have followed with interest the struggle of women in the Philippines to achieve some measure of protection from abusive relationships, and note that draft legislation has been prepared to this effect. I should like to express my strong support for the speedy enactment of the Anti-abuse of Women in Intimate Relationships Bill and other bills to strengthen women's rights. At the same time I should like to urge you to ensure that the five percent of the national budget earmarked for gender issues is fully utilized and that legislative reforms already enacted are effectively implemented. Yours respectfully and sincerely, (signature) Writers in Canada may also copy letters to the Philippines' Ambassador in Ottawa:     His Excellency Francisco L. Benedicto     Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines     130 Albert Street, Suite 606     Ottawa, ON     K1P 5G4

Click here for letter-writing hints (a link to AI Canada's national page). This page also has further information on Amnesty's campaign to end violence against women.

Click here for for the text of the Amnesty International Annual Report (2003) entry on the Philippines (a link to the central library of Amnesty International), or here for recent all A.I. documents on the Philippines
 

DOES THIS DO ANY GOOD?

In 1998, Dita Sari, a young labour activist in Indonesia was featured on this page with a request for people to appeal to the Indonesian authorities against her unfair trial and horrific ill-treatment in custody. She was released in July 1999, two years before the end of her sentence. In June 2000 she was able to attend Amnesty's annual general meeting in Canada as guest speaker.

Another case previously featured here was that of Yusuf Chahin, a student in Lebanon. She was first sentenced to death, then had her sentence commuted to life in prison, but after international publicity was released in June 1999.

Or Dr. Beko Ransom-Kuti of Nigeria. His case was featured here in 1998. As Chairman of the Campaign for Democracy, he worked on behalf of prisoners convicted after secret, grossly unfair treason trials in 1995. As a result, he was himself sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment. He was released in June 1998 following the death of General Sani Abacha.
 
 

"The letters I was sent by your members from around the world...were the greatest morale boost I ever had... I got hundreds. [Prison officials] thought I had great influence, because I was receiving letters from all over the world...It made my life a lot easier. I am very greatful." Letter to Amnesty from Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti (photo opposite) following his release from prison. Source: The Activist, published for A.I. members in Canada, December 1998/January 1999.

It was a cold, wet, blustery day, but spirits were high as Group 60 sent a message of hope for the two political prisoners it was working for at the time. The event was a balloon release from the top of Signal Hill, St. John's, in the mid-1980s. It succeeded in attracting coverage on the C.B.C. national television news.

 

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