SiGAw! | SISTERS OF GABRIELA, AWAKEN!

Kappa Psi Epsilon and SiGAw (Sisters of GABRIELA Awaken!) have come together to present the iVOW vs. VAW Week Campaign! It is a national campaign created by GABRIELA-USA to fight violence against women, to build community power towards the end of violence, and to build a broad network of advocates in the U.S. and beyond.

1. Coming out to our Film Screening:

When: Thursday, February 16

Time: 6:00pm-9:30pm

Where: CSULB Multi-Cultural Center located at the rear end of the Faculty Office 3 Building

What: We’ll be showing the film “Modern Heroes, Modern Slaves” and have a special guest, who helped edit the film, provide updates on our own modern heroes — the domestic workers & victims of trafficking who are fighting for their rights!

2. Spread the Word:

When: Friday, February 17 all day and all night

What: Join the worldwide movement against Violence Against Women using your Social Networks such as FaceBook, Tumblr, Twitter, Path, Google+, Etc.

Simply change your network statuses with the following post: “I __(Fill Name Here)__ vow to fight Violence Against Women (VAW)”

and attach the following link: sigawla.tumblr.com (which will be featuring an interview of Pinay domestic workers and their experiences of harassment, violence and a variety of other issues on the job)

3. Support:

If you can’t physically attend the events, show your support by clicking ATTEND this event & invite your friends & family! or visit the Campaign Website:

http://gabusa.org/campaigns/ivow-to-fight-vaw/.

Violence Against Women is defined as:

- The use of intimidation, threat, forced or coerced physical, sexual, psychological or emotional abuse against women.

- This may happen or occur inside the home, in the community, or at the hands of the state or government.

- This is a violation of basic human rights.

For any questions, comments, or concerns feel free to contact:

Community Action Chair: Jackie Liao :)

Phone: (650) 269-6983 E-mail: kpsie.jliao@gmail.com

Or any Alpha Chapter Kappa!

Sisters of SiGAw:

E-mail: sigaw.la@gmail.com

For more information go to gabusa.org/campaigns/ivow-to-fight-vaw/

In commemoration of the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women (IDEVAW), on November 25th, this month’s Pinay Stories will be focused on issues of violence against women. 

Pinay Stories is a safe space for honest self-reflection and dialogue about issues affecting us and our communities. We come together in dialogue to support each other and become powerful advocates for economic, political, social, racial and gender justice. This discussion group is Pinay focused and is open to women and gender non-conforming persons. Come hungry & support the café (larosecafehollywood.com – like them on Yelp!). Street parking only (please do not park in the Wendy’s lot). 

Friday, November 18, 2011 7:00-9:00pm @ LA Rose Cafe (4749 Fountain Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90029)

Filipino-American Women Join Efforts to Eradicate Violence Against Women and Stand In Defense of HealthCare Workers on the Frontlines of Caring for our Communities

Reference: Raquel Redondiez, Chairperson, GABRIELA-USA
Email: chair@gabusa.org

November 25, 2010 – This International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW), member organizations of GABRIELA-USA: Babae-San Francisco, Samahan ng Kababaihan San Francisco, Pinay sa Seattle, Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment in New York and Sisters of GABRIELA Awaken in Los Angeles stand together with the international community to fight violence against women and re-launch the iVOW campaign (Voices of Women to fight Violence Against Women). For 16 days until International Human Rights Day on December 10, GABRIELA-USA will raise awareness on different forms of violences that are perpetrated against Filipina women via blogs, photos, action items, articles, and community profiles. All posts will be featured on the GABRIELA USA website: www.gabusa.org 
 
The iVOW campaign broadly redefines violence against women to encompass the following ‘seven deadly sins’ against women:
 

·      sex trafficking and prostitution

·      domestic violence

·      rape, incest, and sexual abuse

·      sexual harassment

·      sexual discrimination and exploitation

·      limited access to reproductive healthcare

·      violence as a result of political repression

Just last month, a Filipina nurse working at Contra Costa County Prison died 3 days after suffering head injuries when attacked by an inmate. Cynthia Barraca Palomata was 55-years old. She was simply tending to an inmate who faked a seizure, and then he bashed her head with a table lamp. Despite statistics stating that 49% of over 2 million cases of violence reported to the Department of Labor occur in a healthcare setting, healthcare workers are not receiving adequate protection while providing basic needs and services to people.

This past August, over dozens of Filipino organizations in the SF Bay Area and California Nurses Association charged the California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) with discrimination against Filipina Nurses. Three separate written statements by managers at St. Luke’s Hospital, stated that CPMC-Sutter Health Vice President of Nursing directed managers NOT to hire Filipina nurses and/or foreign-graduate nurses. While CPMC denies the allegations, statistics show that the percentage of Filipino nurses drastically dropped from 65% to 10% since early 2008 when their VP of Nursing allegedly made the unlawful directive.  Since 1965, the United States has been actively recruiting nurses from the Philippines and even enacted an immigration act that allowed nurses to immigrate to the US under the professional preference. “For over forty years, Filipinos have been providing healthcare services that the United States needs.  Health care workers deserve respect and recognition, not violence and discrimination” says Tina Shauf, Chairperson of Babae San Francisco. 

Last February 6th, a group of healthcare workers in the Philippines, also known as the Morong 43 were illegally arrested while conducting and participating in a medical First Responders training. Twenty-six of the workers are women, and 2 of them recently gave birth to babies who were then put back in prison with their mothers. “The Morong 43 are healthcare workers who were simply providing and teaching basic services that the Philippine government does not prioritize for the people.  Their torture and continued detainment is just one of example of state violence inflicted on women, even mothers who have just recently gave birth,” explains Terrie Cervas, Chairperson of Sisters of GABRIELA Awaken. 

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, GABRIELA-USA would like to honor and give thanks to women who have stood strong in the face of violence and injustice, including women who are forced to leave their home country for survival, mothers who have not given up on searching for their disappeared sons and daughters, as well as women who risk their lives to provide basic needs for people. “Women are an essential thread in our society and are often the first victims of violence. If we do not fight for the rights of women, we are failing to fight for human rights all together”, says Irma Bajar, Chairperson of Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment.

Please join GABRIELA-USA in working towards eliminating violence against women by participating in one of the following petitions, or by checking the GABRIELA USA website every day until December 10 to find out what you can do to help. 

Protection for healthcare workers! 
Justice for Filipina Nurses! (http://www.petitiononline.com/filnurse/)
Free the 43! (http://www.petitiononline.com/FreeD43/petition.html) 
Join the fight in eliminating violence against women!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Reference: Terrie Cervas, Sisters of GABRIELA, Awaken!
(213) 537-8278, sigaw.la@gmail.com
 
SIGAW LAUNCHES THE iVOW CAMPAIGN
 
 Los Angeles – Sisters of GABRIELA, Awaken (SiGAw) has formally launched iVOW, a campaign spearheaded by GABRIELA-USA to expose the multiple forms of violence women face everyday. The iVOW campaign enlists community members to sign and have their picture taken with pledge cards, signaling their “vow” to end violence against women.  Alongside other member organizations of GABRIELA-USA from across the nation, SiGAw will build a network of supporters for the iVOW campaign and will collect at least 1,000 photos and signatures by the end of the year.
 
As part of the campaign, SiGAw presented an afternoon of theater, visual arts, and discussion on March 21st with a Diwang Pinay cultural show entitled “Pasanin Mo Pasanin Ko: Bridging the Struggle of Filipinas.”  SiGAw members began preparations months in advance with interviews of migrant and working class Filipinas about their lives and the various forms of violence they have experienced or witnessed.  Their stories served as inspiration for theater pieces which were produced during a series of writing workshops and rehearsals, conducted by SiGAw members and special guests Professors Lucy Burns and Michelle Cruz Skinner, as well as Filipina-American torture survivor Melissa Roxas.
 
Director of the show and SiGAw member Precious Butiu stated, “Diwang Pinay gave life to the stories of these Filipinas in their struggles and perseverance.  Through writing and theater we all collectively empowered and inspired each other to create this show.”
 
In the coming months, SiGAw will continue to organize around the iVOW campaign, outreaching to school campuses and the community.  Members will build awareness through educational workshops on the seven forms of violence women around the world face: sex trafficking and prostitution; domestic violence; rape, incest, and sexual abuse; sexual harassment; violence as a result of political repression; sexual discrimination and exploitation; and limited access to reproductive health care.
 
Here in the US, women face increasing violence with the ongoing economic crisis.  Domestic violence shelters reported an alarming increase in domestic violence cases with the increase in unemployment; ironically, the shelters themselves faced massive cuts to their funding.  Women also have fewer options in choosing health care providers, as budgets for basic social services saw drastic cuts.
 
Meanwhile, the US government continues to send Americans’ tax dollars in the form of military aid to the corrupt Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration, which continues to perpetrate rampant violence against women and children, and the entire Filipino people.  In February of this year, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police illegally arrested 43 health workers, including 22 women.  The 43 health workers continue to languish in detention while the government justifies their torture and the continuing harassment of their family members.  SiGAw condemns this blatant violation of human rights and calls for the immediate release of the 43 health workers.  SiGAw also calls on community members to urge legislators Senator Barbara Boxer and Congressman Howard Berman to put pressure on the Philippine government and military until the 43 are released.
 
END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN!
FREE THE 43!
END STATE SPONSORED VIOLENCE IN THE PHILIPPINES!
ADVANCE THE MILITANT WOMEN’S STRUGGLE!
 
SiGAw is a member organization of GABRIELA-USA, an overseas chapter of GABRIELA Philippines (an alliance of progressive women’s organizations).  GABRIELA-USA also includes Babae in San Francisco, Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment (FiRE) in New York, and Pinay sa Seattle.  SiGAw is also a member organization of BAYAN-USA (a multi-sectoral alliance of progressive Filipino organizations in the US).
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