GABRIELA is the biggest alliance of women's organizations in the Philippines. It is a progressive women's alliance dedicated to promoting the rights of women and indigenous people. It has also campaigned against the forced disappearances and brutal killings of suspected rebels; waged militant opposition to the influence of international financial institutions over the Philippine economy and politics; and denounced government corruption.
In 2001, GABRIELA entered the political arena when its Secretary General, Liza Maza, ran as a Party List Representative under the Bayan Muna (Country First) Party. With the enactment of the 'Party List System' Law in 1995, excluded groups such as women, workers and farmers were able to supersede some of the entrenched barriers to their participation and form 'sectoral' parties to contest 20 per cent of the 250 seats in the Philippine House of Representatives.
Under the law, each voter has two votes when electing Members of the Lower House, one for the individual district representative and another for the 'sectoral party' of her/his choice. To win a seat, a party should at least obtain two per cent of the total number of votes cast in the entire country, and can be awarded a maximum of three seats in Parliament.
GABRIELA's representative won in 2001 and was re-elected in 2004. In 2007, GABRIELA ran again and earned 3.94 per cent of total votes, winning seats for two representatives. The election of GABRIELA's representative in 2001 greatly advanced the women's rights agenda in the Lower House. She played a major role in the passage of pro-women legislation such as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act and the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act. In 2007, the two GABRIELA representatives filed legislative proposals regarding the work benefits of Filipino women and migrant workers, divorce, marital infidelity, prostitution, protection of women and children in conflict areas, and the welfare of female prisoners.
Reforming the electoral system through the introduction of the party list system gave women and other excluded sectors the opportunity not only to be represented in the legislature but to advance a legislative agenda that directly addresses women's issues. The party list system broadened the public space for women, particularly rural women, whose voices can now be heard as GABRIELA goes to Congress.
