GABRIELA is an acronym standing for General Assembly Binding women for Reform, Integrity, Equality, Leadership, and Action. It also commemorates Gabriela Silang, one of the first and fiercest women generals in the Philippines who led the longest series of successful revolts against 18th Century Spanish colonizers. The organization was formed in 1989 by a group of concerned women who met in Chicago. At that time, the people of the Philippines were protesting the continued presence of US military bases in Clark (Air Force) and Subic Bay (Navy). GABNet decided to work in solidarity with GABRIELA Philippines--that country’s oldest and largest national multi-sectoral alliance of more than 200 women’s organizations, which were at the forefront of the US bases issues--in order to galvanize a US forum for their concerns.

Since our inception we have focused our efforts on organizing, educating, networking, and advocating around the issues of sex trafficking, globalization, militarism, labor export and other structural adjustment programs imposed by international finance agencies like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

GABNet operates a national speakers bureau, which offers lecturers and speakers who lead in-depth discussions and multi-media presentations on these issues. The organization also publishes kaWOMENan, its quarterly newsletter.