We support Amihan: Lift freeze order on funds for rural women in the Philippines
The Asian Rural Women’s Coalition (ARWC) supports the call of Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women to lift the freeze order on their bank accounts issued by the Philippine government.
The move by the country’s Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) which imposed the freeze order last May 5 is an apparent form of political repression. It gravely undermines the rights of Amihan to continue its work among peasant women on issues of genuine land reform, on exploitation of and discrimination against rural women, and on advancing their welfare and livelihood. Especially amid the COVID-19 crisis which makes rural women even more vulnerable to poverty, hunger, and abuse, the work of Amihan is very crucial in helping build and strengthen the capacity and leadership of women in asserting their rights and interests.
We join cause-oriented and human rights groups in the Philippines in calling out the authorities for the questionable basis and process behind the freeze order. As recounted by Amihan, they were not given the opportunity to disprove the allegations against them, having only received a copy of the AMLC order more than a month after the latter already issued its resolution.
The Philippine government’s claim that Amihan is part of an armed communist rebellion has not been proven beyond reasonable doubt in any court or any independent and credible body. Such a claim against Amihan appears to be part of a Cold War-era type witch-hunt, which has resulted to numerous human rights violations against members of various people’s organizations in the country.
Using an unfounded accusation to deprive Amihan of its organizational resources and hamper its legitimate work for the rights, livelihood and well-being of its members and communities as a duly established association of peasant women in the Philippines is truly deplorable.
Amihan is a member organization of the ARWC and has been playing a key leadership role in advancing the rights and welfare of rural women in Asia and beyond. We call on all the members, allies and friends of ARWC to join in solidarity the call of Amihan to lift the freeze order on their bank accounts, stop political repression, and respect the human rights of rural women in the Philippines. ###
The Asian Rural Women’s Coalition (ARWC) is a growing movement of women peasants, agricultural women workers, indigenous women, Dalit women, nomads, fisherfolk, informal and formal workers, migrants and advocates calling for rural women’s rights, empowerment and liberation. It was established in March 2008 in Tamil Nadu, India with more than 700 women from grassroots organizations and support NGOs coming from 21 countries in Asia.
