GABNET OPEN LETTER ON THE NICOLE/VFA CASE SENT TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2009
Jollene Levid, Gabnet Secretary-General
secgen@gabnet.org
Tel: 323-356-4748

LOS ANGELES: President Barack Obama was faxed GABNet's Open Letter on the Nicole/VFA this afternoon. Copies of the letter were also sent to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.

Citing the Nicole/VFA case as contributory to the persistent image of the Filipinas as an easy object for sexual and general violence against women, trafficking and prostitution, GABNet demanded that the Obama administration concretize its pro-woman stance by ensuring that provisions for the protection of women, and provisions against violence against women, trafficking and prostitution are in every military agreement between the US and other countries.

GABNet sees this as part of the US duty to the world, "if it seeks to aspire to a genuine moral leadership," said Jollene G. Levid, secretary-general.

The Open Letter was signed by both outgoing and incoming GABNet chairs, Dr. Annalisa Enrile and Kuttin Kandi, world DJ HipHop champion, and by Ms. Levid.

Read the letter to President Barack Obama