In celebration of the National Women’s Month, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-MIMAROPA holds a Webinar on Orientation on Safe Spaces Act or “Bawal Bastos Law” and Gender Fair Language today, 24 March via Zoom.
Hon. Rohima Rias Sarra, Presiding Judge, Municipal Trial Court Branch 2, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan discussed Republic Act 11313 also known as Safe Spaces Act to the regional line agencies (RLA), academe and local media across the region.
“This law does not only pertain to women, the policy of the law states that this is both for men and women in order to recognize equality, security and safety not only in private but also in the streets, and in other spaces like in work, education, training and even online which is very relevant especially that now we are using social media in most of our waking hours,” says Sarra.
According to Sarra, Safe Spaces Act is a law that is still in its infancy that was passed on 2019 and there is no jurisprudence about this law yet. “There is no case that has reached the Supreme Court (SC) and had been decided by the SC which would have become a precedent and would aid in the interpretation and application of this law,” says Sarra.
Meantime, there were cases that are similar or a keen to this, other applicable law such as the “Anti Sexual Harassment Act”, and “Violence Against Women and Children Law”, and jurisprudence regarding the implementation and interpretation of Safe Spaces Act.
As presented by Sarra, RA 11313 (Safe Spaces Act or ‘Bawal Bastos Law’) is an act signed into law on April 2019– defining gender-based sexual harassment in streets, public spaces, online, workplaces and educational or training institutions, providing protective measures and prescribing penalties therefor.
Safe Spaces Act stresses the need to call out the unwelcome and pervasive conduct that creates an uncomfortable environment for the potential victim. These include catcalling or wolf-whistling, giving out sexist, misogynistic, homophobic comments, leering and intrusive gazes, and demanding the victim to offer his or her personal information.
Hon. Sarra pointed out also the importance of using gender-fair language in promoting gender awareness– government officials and employees are mandated to use non-sexist language in preparing letters, memorandum and other communications to encourage them in making conscious effort to avoid implicit and explicit discriminatory language against women and men.
Hon. Sarra encouraged everyone to come up with necessary guidelines to implement RA 11313 within each agency “It is high time to already practice the use of gender-fair language in communication.” (GATS/PIA MIMAROPA)
