Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima is named, for the fourth consecutive time since 2016, as one of the “Sheroes of 2019” or Women Heroes by the RINJ Foundation for being the “Voice of Reason” in opposition of the vicious policies of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs and for “championing the cause of safety for women and children”.
“Her now solitary outspoken voice in opposition to the Duterte Death Squad is why Senator Leila de Lima is an unprecedented exceptional RINJ Shero four years in a row,” RINJ said.
The RINJ Foundation (RINJ), a Canada-based private, non-profit association of humanitarians listed with the United Nations, made the citation in recognition of the women “who smooth the path of humanity for a future of innovation, opportunity & safety of children and their families.”
“The extraordinary Shero De Lima is a Philippines’ elected Senator, lawyer, law professor, and human rights activist who has been critical of Philippines authoritarian leader Rodrigo Duterte for two decades for his admitted crimes of murder, alleged crimes against humanity (now in a complaint before the ICC) and alleged genocide as Mayor of Davao and President of the Philippines,” RINJ said.
“Championing the cause of safety for women and children is the RINJ women’s civil society group and Philippines ‘Shero’ Senator Leila de Lima according to news coverage of her activities over the past twenty years,” RINJ added.
Last Dec. 31, the RINJ Foundation, thru a popular women magazine Feminine-Perspective Magazine (FPMag), published its short list of prominent and inspiring women who continue to stand their ground against persecution and misogyny, and at the same time, inspire fellow women globally through their advocacies and shared principles.
The two other women who shared the Women Sheroes of 2019 recognition with De Lima are New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and United States Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.
Dubbing De Lima as “the Voice of Reason is a Political Prisoner,” Cathy Williams of FPMag recognized the lady Senator as trailblazer for women in the Philippines who are in prominent positions in public service.
“Women like Senator de Lima and Vice President Leni Robredo have worked their way into the halls of power much to the chagrin of Filipino men who have always maintained the male-superior tradition of their ancient, misogynist tribal culture,” Williams said.
De Lima, who has been hailed as a “Shero”, or a “woman admired or idealized for her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities” by the RINJ Foundation and FPMag every year since 2016, has been recognized around the world as a political prisoner who is championing democracy, justice and human rights.