From APRN’s coffee table discussion “On the Situation of Women” last 31 March 2025
This is a periodic activity organized by APRN in between its biennial conferences, designed to focus on urgent and relevant issues that directly impact our lives and struggles. It serves as a vital space for deepening our understanding, exchanging insights, sharing analysis, and learning from each other’s diverse contexts. At its core, this discussion is about strengthening solidarity across the Asia Pacific region.
In particular, we highlight the critical role of women in the struggle—especially amid the intensifying challenges in the region, including escalating geopolitical tensions, war, and rampant economic plunder. These spaces reaffirm our collective commitment to resist and to rise, together.
The socio-economic crisis is turning for the worse under the auspices of imperialism and intensifying fascism, making life unbearable for women across the globe. They are confronted with joblessness, homelessness, cutbacks in basic social services, and unprecedented repression of democratic rights. Their severe exploitation is further exacerbated by contractualization, low wages, various forms of labor flexibility, precarious working conditions, discrimination, and violence.
In rural areas, women continue to bear the brunt of severe poverty and hunger as neoliberal policies drive widespread landlessness and strangle local production. The plunder of natural resources devastates their livelihoods, communities, leaving them with no respite from oppression.
This grim reality is starkly reflected across the Asia Pacific region. From the Philippines, India, Kyrgyzstan, Okinawa, and Hong Kong, the crisis is systemic and escalating.
For over four decades, the Philippines has adhered to the neoliberal framework – prioritizing trade liberalization, privatization, opening of the economy to foreign capital, alongside an export-oriented, import dependent economic model. This approach has widened income inequality and neglected essential social services such as education and healthcare. Moreover, the economy remains heavily reliant on remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The country’s national debt has ballooned to a staggering P16 trillion, with further borrowing expected. This financial burden is being placed on ordinary Filipinos while facing harsh austerity measures while the government extends tax breaks and incentives to big corporations; excessive military spending; and the Marcos Jr. regime’s lavish expenditures – raising serious questions about the government’s fiscal priorities and accountability.
As the May 2025 senatorial elections draw near, rivalries between political factions are intensifying. Repression is also escalating in different parts of the country further aggravated by the alignment of the Marcos regime to the US.
Approximately 18 million women are unaccounted in the labor force. The Philippines also ranks among the top 10 most difficult places for workers due to widespread union-busting. Female labor force participation is 4.5% lower than male participation. Many women workers are vulnerable to exploitation and face higher risk of harassment than their male counterparts. Twenty-two (22%) of Filipino women report experience of sexual harassment and violence in the workplace. This number can be higher due to unreported cases for fear of retaliation and job loss.
The stricter implementation of sourcing policy by the US has severely affected suppliers in the country – for instance the ban on Chinese cotton has resulted into 5 to 6 million loss for suppliers in the country.
The struggle for land continues in the Philippines as farmers are frequently denied access to land by landlords and big corporations. The Rice Liberalization Law has turned the country into the world’s leading rice importer driving down local prices and worsening poverty among farmers and agricultural workers. Many women are pushed into the informal sector due to flexible working hours that allow them to balance domestic responsibilities. 63% of microenterprises are owned by women but despite this, they receive little government support, leaving them without protection or benefits.
The Philippine government relies heavily on OFW remittances, making the country the 4th largest remittance receiving country in the world. 6 out of 10 migrant workers are women and many face dangers and abuses in host countries, with insufficient government intervention. The rising cost of living disproportionately burdens women, aggravated even further with regressive taxes such as value-added tax (VAT). In order to survive, they resort to borrowing and lending microfinance institutions; saving on food and other items; or relying on cash aid programs that are often tied to patronage politics where politicians require endorsement in exchange for assistance.
Reduction of government spending on essential programs further reflects neoliberal policies and government abandonment of basic social services. Women are forced to rely on their own efforts due to the lack of government support. Military spending and debt interest payments exceed healthcare funding.
Since 2012, USAID has allocated $377 million for vital health care programs such as maternal health, family planning, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDs. The closure severely disrupted these initiatives as the national government does not directly fund these services to be able to sustain them independently. The Philippines also has the largest incidence of cancer related deaths in the region, compounded by the world’s lowest cancer screening rate at just 1%. A staggering 390 daily pregnancies involving girls aged 15 and younger highlights gaps in the reproductive health education and access in the country.
The government has no dedicated budget for housing, leaving 3.7 million informal settler families without secured shelter. Environmental degradation due to large-scale dam construction, mining, and plunder of natural resources have resulted in displacement with marginalized communities being the most-vulnerable populations in the country.
These disasters exacerbate violence against women, including trafficking and sexual exploitation. In the Philippines, at least 36 women experience VAW daily, though rampant underreporting suggests the true number is far higher. Despite this alarming reality, critical support services—such as shelters, legal aid, and counseling—remain severely lacking, leaving survivors without protection or justice.
The escalating attacks on women’s and people’s rights include the filing of trumped-up charges, red-tagging, and ongoing human rights violations. According to KARAPATAN, there have been 3.8 million reported cases of threats, harassment, and intimidation in the Philippines.
Several women activists, human rights defenders, development workers, and NGO staff have been charged under the Anti-Terrorism Law and the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012, collectively known as the “twin terror laws.” Additionally, NGOs have been forcibly closed by the government over alleged terrorism financing, despite the absence of any proof.
Despite facing economic and political challenges, women continue to resist. Organized solidarity remains a crucial tool in the fight against oppression. The recent IPT 2024 verdict finds the US Government, along with the Marcos Jr. and Duterte regimes, guilty of war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law, further highlighting the urgent need for justice and accountability in the face of systemic abuses.
Women in the Philippines are at the forefront of struggles against economic injustices, wars, and fascism in the country. They are actively challenging policies that deepen poverty, exploit labor, and prioritize militarization over social welfare. From protests against rising costs of living to standing up against oppressive regimes, women continue to be a powerful force in the fight for a just and equitable society. Their resistance is not only a fight for their rights but also a call for broader social change that addresses the root causes of inequality and violence.
In India, women make up 48% of the population, yet only 18% of them contribute to the GDP, revealing a large gender gap in the country’s productive forces. Such disparity is deeply rooted in systemic discrimination and socio-economic challenges despite supposed constitutional guarantees. Women face multiple layers of oppression – based on caste, economic status, and even geography. Women are expected to fulfill traditional roles as mothers while juggling work and multiple responsibilities.
Meanwhile, Adivasi women—numbering 104 million according to India’s census—represent 705 distinct communities, facing additional barriers that further entrench their marginalization. Adivasi, fisherfolk, workers, and Dalit women experience compounded forms of oppression, limiting their opportunities and reinforcing their socio-economic exclusion.
The situation is worsened by the fascist counterinsurgency program of the Modi regime, Operation Kagar, which targets Adivasi communities. Operation Kagar is used by the ruling state to silence dissent and crush resistance. Backed by corporate interests and imperialist powers, it serves as a brutal war of suppression and counterinsurgency campaign of the reactionary regime, deepening the socio-political and economic struggles of the people.
The militarization and forced displacement of Adivasi populations under Operation Kagar strip them of their land, resources, and basic rights, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and violence. For Adivasi women, this translates to compounded layers of dispossession, vulnerability, and violence—trapping them in a relentless cycle of poverty and marginalization.
Caste-based discrimination and inequality continue to plague Dalit women, who face compounded oppression due to their gender, caste, and economic status. They are often victims of horrific social and religious practices, including sexual exploitation under the guise of religious customs. A recent and tragic example is the brutal rape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit woman, highlighting the extreme violence and exploitation these women endure.
Muslim women, particularly in Kashmir, face targeted violence fueled by hate speech and the widespread use of social media to incite hostility. These women are often subjected to physical and verbal abuse, harassment, and discrimination, exacerbated by the toxic rhetoric that circulates online, further entrenching their vulnerability in a climate of religious intolerance.
Fisherfolk women face severe challenges due to infrastructure and development projects, compounded by unsafe working conditions, the climate crisis, and lack of land ownership.
Only 14% of women have land ownership, and there is no assurance of credit access. Despite being the backbone of coastal economies, these women remain largely invisible in national policies. As workers, they are confronted with hazardous environments, and only 30% of them participate in production activities.
In Manipur, a powerful case of protest emerged when mothers staged a naked demonstration against the Assam Rifles, following the rape and killing of Thangjam Manorama, highlighting the extreme vulnerabilities women face.
Internal (interstate) migration also reveals troubling trends. Many women migrate for domestic work under bonded labor conditions, receiving extremely low wages. In these settings, reports of sexual harassment by employers are common, exposing yet another layer of abuse faced by migrant and marginalized women workers.
Kyrgyzstan has a population of approximately 6 million, with women accounting for 51%. The country is grappling with mounting economic challenges, including growing dependence on imports and a worsening energy crisis that is straining internal systems. Religious fundamentalism is on the rise, and traditional practices such as polygamy remain widespread. Labor migration—primarily to Russia—continues at high levels but has become increasingly dangerous, with a growing number of fatalities among migrant workers.
Women are particularly vulnerable, facing persistent gender-based violence often intensified by economic hardship within families. These issues were further compounded during the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly limited women’s ability to seek help or protect themselves.
To address various issues concerning women, civil society organizations (CSOs) have established women’s help desks across the country. These serve as vital access points for information on women’s rights and avenues for reporting cases of abuse. In coordination with state agencies, these help desks are strategically located to reach women in both urban and rural areas.
These CSOs actively collaborate with women’s groups and social movements nationwide. They also work closely with women deputies—at the state and parliamentary levels—to address gender-based violence and other women’s issues. Their efforts focus on building their capacity to utilize legal instruments for women’s rights, develop local action plans, and integrate gender perspectives into government policy.
However, last April 2024, the controversial ‘foreign agents’ legislation was signed into law in Kyrgyzstan which sparked serious concerns among CSOs, human rights groups, and the international community due to its possible repressive implications. Any non-governmental organization (NGO) that receives foreign funding and is involved in “political activity” can be designated as a foreign representative.
Organizations regarded as foreign representatives are expected to comply with onerous reporting requirements, frequent audits, and the threat of suspension or closure for failing to comply. Criminal liabilities can potentially lead to imprisonment of members of CSOs or the permanent closure of these organizations.
The law is widely seen as a tool to crack down on dissent, silence civil society, and further shrink civic space in Kyrgyzstan. It closely mirrors repressive legislation in Russia and parts of Eastern Europe, where “foreign agents” laws have been systematically used to criminalize opposition, intimidate activists, and dismantle democratic participation.
Ethnic Kyrgyz communities, particularly those living in marginalized or cross-border regions, face a range of entrenched social and economic challenges. High illiteracy rates—especially among women and girls—limit access to education, employment opportunities, and essential services. Traditional practices such as early marriage and polygamy remain widespread, often driven by poverty, lack of access to education, and deeply rooted gender norms. These conditions contribute to systemic gender inequality, with women frequently subjected to domestic violence and limited in their ability to make decisions about their own lives. The intersection of economic hardship and cultural practices creates an environment where women’s rights and well-being are routinely compromised, and opportunities for empowerment remain scarce without targeted support and intervention.
In many rural areas of Kyrgyzstan, women play a central role in agricultural labor, often working long hours in the fields to support their families. Despite their significant contributions to household and community economies, they frequently lack control over the income they generate. Cultural and patriarchal norms dictate that women hand over their earnings to male family members—typically husbands, fathers, or brothers—leaving them with little to no financial autonomy. This dynamic reinforces gender inequality and economic dependency, limiting women’s ability to make independent decisions, invest in their own well-being, or improve their social and economic standing. Without access to financial literacy, legal protection, or support systems, many rural women remain trapped in cycles of labor and disempowerment.
In southern Kyrgyzstan, early and forced marriages remain a pressing concern, particularly among girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Many girls are married in their teenage years and as a result, they face significant difficulties in adapting to new family environments, where expectations are often high and support is limited. These early unions frequently lead to instability, with a high rate of divorce—often leaving young women with small children, no financial means, and little or no access to education or employment opportunities.
There is a significant US military presence in Japan, particularly in Okinawa, where women and girls of all ages have been subjected to violence, including rape and murder, over the years. From 1989 to 2023, 88 reported cases of sexual violence by U.S. service members were recorded, with 41 occurring in Okinawa. In addition, 75 more sexual assault cases have surfaced, 27 of which also took place in Okinawa. Altogether, 42% of the 160 recorded cases of violence against women involving U.S. personnel in Japan occurred in Okinawa.
Over the past two years, there has been a troubling rise in physical attacks committed by U.S. service members. The military culture and persistent gender stereotypes contribute to an environment where violence against women (VAW) continues. These dynamics are deeply rooted in the presence of US military bases in the country, which fosters impunity and perpetuates harm.
Despite the severity of these cases, the government often withholds critical information from the public. In one harrowing case, a minor was abducted and assaulted, yet authorities cited privacy concerns to justify withholding details. During court proceedings, the victim was forced to testify while only a partition separated her from her attacker, highlighting the lack of trauma-informed practices in the justice system.
In November last year, Japan was reviewed under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). While some progress was noted—a small victory—there remains an urgent need for comprehensive research and decisive action. The link between militarization and violence against women and children must be fully acknowledged and addressed.
Women with disabilities face multiple layers of violence and discrimination—both as women and as persons with disabilities. Under occupation, they are subjected to systemic exclusion from public spaces and face severe barriers in accessing labor markets.
The ongoing genocide in Gaza has only intensified their suffering. Since October 7, 2023, the situation has become catastrophic: over 251,000 people martyred, 120,000 injured, and millions displaced. More than 14,000 people have acquired disabilities as a result of the bombings. Basic social services —healthcare, education, and infrastructure—have been deliberately and repeatedly targeted by Israeli forces.
For 31 days this 2025, Gaza endured without medicine, clean water, or food. Women with disabilities are among the most vulnerable, facing unique challenges due to the intersection of gender and disability. There is a dire lack of access to assistive devices, healthcare, and support services.
A staggering 85.8% of women with disabilities reported that bombings occurred daily in their areas. Many sustained injuries and trauma, lost their homes, and had their assistive devices destroyed. Over half—51%—lost access to crucial medical equipment, and 56.9% experienced a worsening of their disability. Furthermore, 42.5% of these women were unable to evacuate due to the lack of accessible support and mobility.
Overcrowded shelters and inadequate facilities, especially bathrooms, further violate their dignity and safety. These conditions not only strip away their basic rights but also increase the severity of their conditions.
This situation is further exacerbated by the global rise in militarism, deepening economic crises, and proxy wars, all of which continue to destabilize communities and disproportionately harm women with disabilities.
Migrant women working as domestic workers in local households face significant vulnerabilities. In Hong Kong, there are currently over 350,000 domestic workers, the majority of whom are women from the Philippines and Indonesia. These women are often required to live with their employers—a condition that not only isolates them but also increases their exposure to various forms of abuse. Alternative living arrangements are often criminalized, further limiting their freedom and agency. Unfortunately, such exploitative conditions remain widespread.
Looking ahead, Hong Kong plans to expand its reliance on migrant women for domestic labor, particularly to support its aging population by 2050. Authorities are now considering India and Sri Lanka as new sources for recruiting migrant domestic workers, viewing them as “stable” labor pools.
The struggles of women are deeply interconnected. It cuts across borders, generations and classes. The onslaught of imperialism and fascism continues to trample upon basic human rights. Whether it’s sexual violence, the erasure of women’s labor in economies, the systemic denial of living wages – women are being exploited and oppressed. Public spaces built with their own labor continue to exclude them.
The struggles of women are deeply interconnected – cutting across borders, and classes. The onslaught of imperialism and fascism manifests is a lived reality for millions of women in different parts of the world especially in the Global South.
The neoliberal framework exploits women in factories, export processing zones, plantations – stripping them of labor rights and subjecting them to unsafe working conditions. Migrant women are forced to leave their families behind to seek better opportunities abroad and are vulnerable to racism, sexual assault, and abuse where they are treated as disposable labor.
In rural communities, women are victims of land grabbing and large-scale resource extraction by multinational corporations—destroying ancestral lands and livelihoods. Women who defend their communities and assert their rights are often threatened, harassed, or killed.
But despite these attacks, women continue to resist—organizing strikes, defending their land, building solidarity across borders, and leading movements for genuine justice, sovereignty, and peace
Women are not powerless. They continue to rise in solidarity—against imperialism, against fascism, against the system that continues to profit at the expense of the people. Together, they continue to gather strength, raise their voices, and build a unified movement for justice in the Asia Pacific region and beyond.
In this time of severe economic crisis, it is essential for all working women to deepen their understanding of the interconnected nature of economic and political life—and to confront the root problems that demand our collective action.
It is imperative that we strengthen solidarity among working women and other democratic forces within our countries. We must also extend this solidarity across borders—uniting with working women around the world to build a common front against exploitation and oppression.
Together, we continue to forge stronger alliances and amplify grassroots struggles in the pursuit of a just and equitable society. The fight is far from over—but in every corner of the world, women are rising.
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