MANILA, Philippines - Women's rights group Gabriela will hold a "solidarity" mission in areas ravaged by supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan) to look into the living conditions of families affected by the cyclone's devastation.
The group said the Women's International Solidarity mission will also look into reports of human rights violations in some areas in Leyte, a year after "Yolanda" battered the place.
The solidarity mission participants include women from the United States and Vietnam, as well as internationally renowned actress Monique Wilson.
The group will also join the National Conference of Disaster Victims on November 6 and the big protest rally of disaster victims on November 8.
"We join the victims in their demand for justice against a neglectful government. We call on the government to uphold their rights to food security, adequate shelter, employment and livelihood, and protection against climate disasters," Gabriela secretary general Joms Salvador said.
She also noted that at least three alleged prostitution dens raided by authorities yielded several women-victims of sex trafficking from Yolanda-stricken areas in Eastern Visayas.
Reports of lodging houses which served as areas of "transaction" for prostitution have also been reported in Tacloban City, Salvador said.
"Life remains hard for the victims, especially women and girls. We were not surprised when we heard that some have already resorted to prostitution," Salvador said.