Our coverage of COVID-19 and its impact on impoverished communities continues.  Today, we head to the Philippines where we see a similar pattern emerging of the use of Emergency state powers to repress social movements but little if any, genuine government intervention to keep people safe.

During this year’s May Day activities in the Philippines, activists were arrested for going out and feeding the poor – yet they were placed in unsanitary prison environments. This week, Accent of Women features Cristina Palabay Secretary General of Karapatan, a national human rights alliance that also works with various social movements in the Philippines.