We demand that the Philippine Government pursue all means necessary to
immediately prosecute the six U.S. servicemen charged with raping a Filipino
woman in Olongapo City. The Philippine government should do no less. The
government owes it to all Filipino women.
This is not the first time U.S. soldiers abused a Filipino woman. This is
not the first time U.S. soldiers showed pure contempt for a Filipino woman
and, in effect, Filipino women in general. The reported details of the rape
committed by the six servicemen show that contempt: the driver who witnessed
the incident reportedly said that after the woman was raped she was dumped
on the road like a pig.
Now that the victim has dared report the heinous crime, her person is being
attacked. In an effort to discredit her story, she has been called a "sex
worker," a loose woman, a willing victim. She is blamed for what happened.
Those who had been raped and those who work with victims of rape know that
the reality of rape is otherwise. There is never a justification for rape.
No woman, whatever her character, reputation or station in life, deserves to
be raped. Every rape results in grievous harm to the victim’s physical and
mental integrity. Every victim’s healing and recovery requires justice.
And so this latest violation of a Filipino woman’s humanity and rights must
not be left unpunished.
The Philippine government must ensure that the victim of the six U.S.
servicemen receives adequate support and the appropriate services she needs
to pursue her claim for justice to the very end.
It must pursue all means to get custody of the six U.S. soldiers and ensure
that an effective and speedy trial of the six is conducted towards ensuring
that justice is served.
We call on our people to join us in collective condemnation of the rape and
to be steadfast and vigilant in our call for justice for the victim. #
AKBAYAN
Amnesty International - Pilipinas
Alliance of Progressive Labor - Women
Asian Women Human Rrights Center / Lolas Kampanyera
BUKLOD (Olongapo City)
Coalition Against Trafficking in Women-Asia Pacific (CATW-AP)
Katipunan ng Kababaihan para sa Kalayaan (KALAYAAN)
LABAN NG MASA
LIKHAAN
Nagkakaisang Kababaihan ng Angeles City (NAGKA)
Pandayan/PAKISAMA
PIGLAS-APL
Piglas Kababaihan
Philippine Working Group (PWG), International Women¹s Network Against
Militarism
PhilCuba Association
SANLAKAS
SARILAYA
WomanHealth Philippines / FDC
Women’s Crisis Center (WCC)
Women’s Education, Development, Productivity Research & Advocacy
Organization (WEDPRO)
Women¹s Legal Bureau (WLB)
Women Rage /Partido ng Manggagawa
Women Step In, Gloria Step Down Movement
Women Working Together to Stop Violence Against Women (WWTSVAW)