Hundreds rally in Philippines to mark International Women's Day

Monday, hundreds of Filipinos joined a protest in Manila to mark International Women's Day (IWD), condemning the killings of several activists.

The protesters, most members of women's group Gabriela, marched through the streets of the capital near the presidential palace, and held a rally to criticize the government's efforts during the coronavirus pandemic and the deadly crackdown against their colleagues.

The General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms, Integrity, Equality, Leadership, and Action (Gabriela) is a leftist Filipino organization that advocates for women's issues.

Sunday, nine people were killed in the Philippines in a series of raids by security forces targeting alleged communist insurgents. Leftist groups claimed those who were killed were unarmed activists.

"COVID-19 has heightened inequalities and this has also affected how women are organizing themselves. This has become more difficult to do now because they themselves are being attacked for speaking up about the issues that concern them,” a Philippine lawmaker told AFP.

"We are gravely concerned at how women's rights and issues and concerns are greatly sidelined by attacks on women through sexism, misogyny."