- Title: VARIOUS: Asian women march in rallies marking International Women's Day.
- Date: 8th March 2007
- Summary: (W2) MANILA, PHILIPPINES (MARCH 8, 2007) (REUTERS) WOMEN MARCHING WOMEN HOLDING PLACARDS "U.S WAR MACHINE" AND PHOTOGRAPHS /ANTI PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO RIOT POLICE APPROACH MARCHERS RIOT POLICE USE SHIELDS TO STOP MARCHERS WOMEN PROTESTERS SCUFFLE WITH POLICE PROTESTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) KILUSAN PARA SA PAMBANSANG DEMOCRASIYA (KPD) SPOKESPERSON VIRGINIA SUAREZ-PINLAC SAYING: "What we want is for the women of the world to know that we must continue demanding our rights. Fight for our rights in our homes or offices. Fight for issues that affect our people even if we have to go out on the streets." MORE OF PROTESTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) KILUSAN PARA SA PAMBANSANG DEMOCRASIYA (KPD) SPOKESPERSON VIRGINIA SUAREZ-PINLAC SAYING: "This terrorism bill which was just signed made even a simple protest action an act of terrorism. We the people who fight for people's rights are now called terrorists."
- Embargoed: 23rd March 2007 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVA7PGS5TQDVS2Z0LT1LPPAFGE28
- Story Text: Women in the Philippines and Bangladesh take to the streets on International Women's Day to press their demands for greater rights for women. In Manila, women demonstrators clash with police during a march to demand the repeal of a new anti-terrorism law that would ban the right to protest.
Women in Bangladesh and the Philippines took their demands for greater rights for women into the streets on Thursday (March 8), with demonstrations marking International Women's Day.
In Manila, several hundred women activists were blocked by riot police in the city centre when they tried to march to the presidential palace. The marchers carried placards bearing slogans demanding the withdrawal of a new anti-terrorism law.
"This terrorism bill which was just signed made even a simple protest action an act of terrorism. We the people who fight for people's rights are now called terrorists," said Kilusan Para Sa Pambansang Democrasiya (KPD) spokesperson Virginia Suarez-Pinlac.
The law was designed to help the country fight terrorism. The Philippines has faced an Islamic insurgency in the south of the country for decades.
Suarez-Pinlac said the bill would ban activists from publicly demanding respect for human rights.
"What we want is for women of the world to know that we must continue demanding our rights. Fight for our rights in our homes or offices. Fight for issues that affect our people even if we have to go out into the streets," she said.
Left-wing groups believe the law could be used by the government against political opponents.
In Dhaka, hundreds of Bangladeshi women took part in rallies, chanting slogans and marching in protest against violence against women.
"I'm working as a volunteer in Bangladesh for a year and I have come here to join with the Bangladeshi women on International Women's Day to protest to stop violence against women and to support women's rights in Bangladesh and all over the world," said Bridget McAloon, a volunteer charity worker from Australia.
International Women's Day was launched in 1910 to promote women's rights and help achieve universal suffrage for women.
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