Kwentuhang Pangkababaihan/ Kwentuhang Pangkalalakihan o K2K

Last December 20, 2009, Women Wise³ launched its first ever K2K – a psychosocial counseling session for the victims and families of victims of human rights violations. The participants were divided into two groups for counseling: the first consists of families of victims of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearance while the second was composed of victims of various harassment and violence inside the workplace. Some of the participants were Luz Fortuna and Noralyn Cristobal, wives of assassinated trade union leaders Diosdado Fortuna and Gerardo Cristobal; Marissa Concepcion, wife of the disappeared Rogelio Concepcion and; the newly-freed Karnation 20 add link and their respective families. The facilitators of the counseling were Ms. Carolina Dionco of the Institute for Formation and Religious Studies (IFRS) for the families of victims and Dr. Edwin Decenteceo of the Department of Psychology, UP Diliman for the group of the Karnation 20 and other direct victims of violations.

The participants of K2K remarked on the relief it gave them after the counseling. It helped unburden the victims of bad memories and traumas. Marissa and Chin both widows of victims of killings said they finally mustered the strength to share their feelings and experience with other people. It allowed them look at their current situation with strength and optimism in the struggle for justice for their lost loved ones.

The Origin of Women Wise3

The concept was formulated from series of meeting and periodic activities and campaigns coordinated by the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) vis-a-vis issues of repression and injustice.

Since 2004, the CTUHR occasionally coordinates activities among victims. It gives assistance in filing complaints or cases in government agencies, conducts Fact Finding Missions (FFMs) and dialogues between victims and the authorities. Whilst they were helpful in bringing the issues out, the actual condition and situation of families so they can be continually assisted and involved in their quest for justice, while coping with their traumas were not given with sufficient weight. This was due to CTUHR’s lack of resources.

In the case of women workers who were abused or displaced in the exercises of their right to unionize, the CTUHR’s response was able inconsistent due to limited capacity. Often, after the picket lines were dispersed and the unions busted, the expression of their campaigns and struggles gradually lost, until the workers slowly leave their struggle and start looking for other jobs as economic needs and political pressure set in. CTUHR was not able to conduct regular follow-ups of cases primarily because of lack of manpower and  immediate issues that have to be addressed.

This experience was thoroughly assessed and subsequently came out with conclusion that it is time fro the families of victims and the victims themselves to actively participate, if not lead, in the struggle related to their issues. It is not only effective but is is more empowering as they take center stage in attaining justice through continuous and unrelenting struggle, with or without the presence of CTUHR.

In addition, their experience can also serve as lesson and inspiration on how to deal with obstacles in life with courage, and as they say it, with a smile on their faces.

The Women Wise3 was formally launched in a dialogue with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and a forum on August 13, 2008 at the University of the Philippines Diliman. It was also the day of commemorating a dark chapter in the history of workers’ struggle: the crackdown of 1982.

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