A Senate bill proposed by Senator Risa Hontiveros seeks to penalize street harassment, such as cat-calling and wolf-whistling.
Senate Bill No. 1326 or the proposed Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act defines harassment as “unwanted comments, gestures, and actions forced on a person in a public space without their consent and is directed at them.”
“Despite the fact that street harassment is a daily reality for an overwhelming majority of Filipinas and LGBTs, there are no clear-cut laws that specifically address this malaise,” Hontiveros said.
Light violations, such as unwanted cursing, wolf-whistling, cat-calling, leering, sexist and homophobic or transphobic slurs, shall be penalized with a fine of up to P3,000 and arrest of up to 30 days.
First offenders will also be required to undergo eight hours inclusive of a Gender Sensitivity Seminar to be conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Medium violations, meanwhile, include making offensive body gestures at someone and exposing private parts for sexual gratification of the perpetrator. Those violating such will be penalized with a fine of up to P5,000 and imprisonment of up to six months for repeated offenses.
Stalking as well as light and medium violations accompanied by touching, pinching and brushing against the body of a person may be fined up to P10,000 and imprisoned up to six months.
The Metro Manila Development Authority for Metro Manila and the local units of the PNP for other provinces shall deputize its enforcers to be Anti-Sexual Harassment Enforcers (A-SHE).
A-SHEs may immediately apprehend the offender, and immediately impose the fine or issue orders for community service.
Senate Bill No. 1326 or the proposed Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act defines harassment as “unwanted comments, gestures, and actions forced on a person in a public space without their consent and is directed at them.”
“Despite the fact that street harassment is a daily reality for an overwhelming majority of Filipinas and LGBTs, there are no clear-cut laws that specifically address this malaise,” Hontiveros said.
Light violations, such as unwanted cursing, wolf-whistling, cat-calling, leering, sexist and homophobic or transphobic slurs, shall be penalized with a fine of up to P3,000 and arrest of up to 30 days.
First offenders will also be required to undergo eight hours inclusive of a Gender Sensitivity Seminar to be conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Medium violations, meanwhile, include making offensive body gestures at someone and exposing private parts for sexual gratification of the perpetrator. Those violating such will be penalized with a fine of up to P5,000 and imprisonment of up to six months for repeated offenses.
Stalking as well as light and medium violations accompanied by touching, pinching and brushing against the body of a person may be fined up to P10,000 and imprisoned up to six months.
The Metro Manila Development Authority for Metro Manila and the local units of the PNP for other provinces shall deputize its enforcers to be Anti-Sexual Harassment Enforcers (A-SHE).
A-SHEs may immediately apprehend the offender, and immediately impose the fine or issue orders for community service.
Source: gmanetwork
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