Herstory
herstory
The founders of WEDPRO (founded October 1989) were members of the feminist collective Katipunan ng Kababaihan para sa Kalayaan, popularly known as KALAYAAN (founded 1983). WEDPRO members have a long history of being activists and feminists, whose individual and collective experience has made a mark especially in the early years of the women’s liberation movement. KALAYAAN was one of the very first women’s organizations that took pride in its feminist identity.
From KALAYAAN’s first call for upholding “women’s human rights” in the early 1980s, WEDPRO picked up the call and sustained this in its programs and activities.
As one of the formators of WEDPRO said, “We wanted to test our feminist principles and fundamental philosophical moorings in development work.”
The project “Legislative Executive Bases Council (LEBC) Comprehensive Bases Conversion Program,” was the launching program of WEDPRO, where it produced a milestone action report called “Technical Report on the Bases Conversion Program for Women in the Cities of Angeles and Olongapo. It addressed the socio-economic plight of women in the prostitution systems in the former US military facilities in Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base, and developed alternative programs for the women after the bases left in 1991. The LEBC was headed by then UP President Abueva.
At present, WEDPRO is redefining itself as a women’s collective that seeks to serve as a dynamic catalyst within the women’s movements and other social movements working for people-oriented, gender-fair programs and services that ensures women’s empowerment.
networks and partners
Akbayan Women’s Committee* AMEND* BUKLOD Women’s Center * Pambansang Kongreso ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK) * Philippine Committee – International Criminal Court (PC-ICC) * Philippine Human Rights Center (PHILRights) * Philippine Women’s Network for Peace and Security (PWNPS) NOVA* SIBOL * Task Force Subic Rape (TFSR) * Women Working Together to Stop Violence Against Women (WWTSVAW)
