Who is Liza Maza and why was she in custody? Liza Maza is the sole congressional representative of the GABRIELA Women’s Party, one of the rare all-women’s electoral parties in the world. Liza Maza is the principal author of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law and the Anti Violence Against Women and Children Act. These laws are very important in the Philippine context because in 2005 alone 750,000 women were exported to over 203 countries. 30% of the women being exported from the Philippines end up in the sex trade. For this reason, it is imperative that Congresswoman Liza Maza remain free to represent women and to be the voice of women in Philippine government.

However she has been charged with rebellion along with other women leaders and organizers. The control of traffickers, whether official or non-official, on Philippine policies governing women can be seen in the fact that 68 women organizers have already been assassinated.

We are therefore calling on all women and all men to come to the aid and support of this courageous legislator.

The woman. Liza grew up in San Pablo, Laguna, a daughter of grocery store owners and one of 10 children. Liza attended the University of the Philippines and majored in economics. Liza is a mother of two sons, raising both Niko and AG to respect and recognize every woman’s worth. At 48 years old, Liza starts the morning doing yoga, reading the papers, and doing radio interviews. She also describes herself as the “perennial student” and is an avid reader of Coelho, Allende, and Neruda. Known throughout her life as a woman with a very sharp mind, she is well liked and admired. She has a strong sense of humor, generosity, and a genuine faith in the ability of people, especially women, to change not only their personal destinies but the destinies of their nation.

The activist. Liza has been an activist since her student days at the University of the Philippines, Diliman where her first struggle was with a dorm matron and curfew regulations. She then started working with the University Alliance which did work with the urban poor. After graduation, Liza worked as a researcher and taught for St. Scholastica College. Liza started working with GABRIELA Philippines, the largest and most militant alliance of women’s organizations in the Philippines. She eventually became part of the editors collective for LAYA magazine. Liza was elected Secretary General of GABRIELA, a post she held for fourteen years. Liza was a founding member of the Asia section of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and a member of the executive committee of the Women’s International Democratic Federation.

The Congresswoman. Liza was the sponsor of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003; co-author of the Anti-Violence in Women and Children Act. Overall, Liza has authored 18 bills and 24 resolutions. She is the author of the controversial Philippine Divorce Bill. Liza is the Vice Chairperson of the Women’s Committee and serves on the following congressional committees: Civil, Political, and Human Rights; Suffrage and Electoral Reform; Foreign Affairs; Health; Justice; Ways and Means; Appropriations; and Higher and Technical Education. Liza has played a pivotal role in reflecting in law the issues of women on the Philippines and their vision for themselves and their country.

MEDIA WATCH - ON LIZA: The Teeming Masa Transformed This Former Burgis into a Congresswoman Worthy of Her Name. “Her own experiences as a survivor of similar sexual harassment incidents prodded Maza to become actively involved in women’s issues in the late 1980s. ‘I know how these are unwanted acts and how a woman’s first reaction is just to freeze. I vowed then to fight for a society free from all forms of violence against women,’ she says.” From the INQ7.net, 26 March 2006. read more

Join the Hands Off Liza Maza Campaign now. For more info, please contact GABNet Chair Annalisa Enrile: freeliza@gabnet.org or 619.316.0920.

HANDS OFF LIZA MAZA

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