OPINION

DURIAN

text AMINA RASUL, Former Presidential Adviser on Youth Affairs

Women’s rights in the time of Gloria

Those that would give up essential liberty in pursuit of a little temporary security deserve neither liberty nor security.”—Benjamin Franklin.

In an interview on ANC, Chairman Purifacion Quisumbing of the Commission on Human Rights clearly stated that human-rights violations were already being committed before Proclamation 1017. This assessment, coming from the distinguished chairman herself, highlights the challenge faced by human rights and democracy advocates in the country today. I am thankful that the proclamation has been lifted. However, the “arrest” of Rep. Rissa Baraquel, supposedly to “protect” her belies the government’s act. Rissa asked who was the police protecting her from?

P1017 has been lifted but the government moves like it is still in place. Someone likened the present situation to a “smiling martial law.” The fears of citizens who have felt the oppression under martial law resurfaced. Human rights violations, already being committed in the guise of the war on terror, will increase as the military and police inexorably move to protect the Palace.

Since we are celebrating Women’s Month, let’s look at women’s rights in these turbulent times. Many of my feminist colleagues from other countries congratulate us for the election of two women presidents, a feat the United States women’s movement envies. However, we need to ask the tough question: Are women better off just because a woman is elected president? We should ask sectoral representatives Lisa Masa and Rissa Baraquel, and Mely Nicolas, former chair of the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women: How are women’s rights in the time of Gloria?

Let’s look at at the specific cases of Muslim women, who are collateral victims of the war on terror. The drive against the threat of international terrorism has spawned allegations of human rights violations perpetrated by government agents. Suspected Muslim terrorists, including their wives and children, are hauled to detention centers without due process.

What is the truth? The Philippine Council for Islam and Democracy will host the first national conference on Human Rights, Islam and Democracy in Zamboanga City on March 17 and 18 to look at what is the reality and what we can do to protect our rights as citizens. Priorities on the agenda are women’s rights, children’s rights and the cases of child soldiers, illegally detained Muslims, and the antiterror bill.

Last year, the CHR in partnership with the UP Women Lawyers Circle (WILOCI) and the Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA) initiated the study “Human Rights Condition of Muslim Women and Children in Detention” in response to allegations of human rights violations.

Muslim women and children detainees were interviewed in jails throughout Metro Manila. Two hundred three Muslim women and 14 children detainees as of June 2005 were documented. The study indicates that 212 of detained Muslim women and minors were arrested without warrants of arrest. Moreover, 89 of those arrested without warrants did not know the identity of the arresting officers or the law enforcement agency they were from. Worse, documented cases of abuse include women detainees forced to strip naked for the police authorities to search for hidden drugs.

This reflects not only the lack of transparency among our law enforcing agencies but also a disregard for rights of the accused, supposed to be guaranteed under the equal protection clause of our Constitution.

Randy and Rissa have experienced temporary detention. What of ordinary citizens? What of the favorite whipping dogs of antiterror groups, the Muslims? Do we sacrifice civil liberties to protect our security? Let’s see what President Bush’ party mate, Rep. Ron Paul (Texas), says: “Demanding domestic security in times of war invites carelessness in preserving civil liberties and the right of privacy. Frequently the people are only too anxious for their freedoms to be sacrificed on the altar of authoritarianism thought to be necessary to remain safe and secure. Nothing would please the terrorists more than if we willingly gave up some of our cherished liberties while defending ourselves from their threat.”