The Kurdish Women’s Relations Office (REPAK), issued a statement after the detention in Manila (Philippine) of 20 activists of GABRIELA, including its deputy secretary general, Joan Salvador.

The statement issued by REPAK said: "We have learned with dismay that the Philippine police has detained 20 activists, among them Joan Salvador, the deputy secretary general of GABRIELA, on Friday morning in Manila.

The women’s and LGBTQ+ rights activists were protesting the Duterte government’s policy in response to the pandemic while commemorating the Pride Month."

The statement added: "They were calling for free mass testing, non-discriminatory financial assistance for Filipino affected by the pandemic, and respect for the rights of LGBTQ+ against statesponsored human rights violations and the looming Anti-Terrorism Law. All those detained by the misogynist government under Duterte are activists that untiringly struggle for a free life in a democratic country.

They are resisting violence and political repression by a macho-fascist regime, which brands all kind of democratic opposition and protest as ‘terrorism’. By using this narrative it tries to legitimize its depletion of democracy, freedom and human rights. But a brief glance at the background of the detained activists is enough to understand the real motives of the Filipino state in arresting and detaining the protesters: Our friend Joan Salvador is well known in the international women’s movement as a staunch women’s rights defender."

The statement continued: "We express our support and solidarity with the resisting women and people of the Philippines. Resistance is life. We’ll liberate life through our resistance and organized struggle. Together, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder."