ISSN: 2265-6294

Filling In the Loopholes: An Assessment of The Philippine Safe Spaces Act

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Christian F. Gonzales

Abstract

Before Republic Act No. 11313 or otherwise known as the Safe Spaces Act of 2019 became in force, Republic Act No. 7877 or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 was the primary law governing acts of sexual harassment in the Philippines. However, it only penalizes sexual harassment at work, training, or education perpetrated by a person who has authority, influence, or moral superiority over another person. The passage of the said Act aims to safeguard all genders from possible acts of sexual harassment in both physical and online spaces. This paper is aimed to examine the Philippine Safes Spaces Act. It is composed of three parts. Part 1 explores the broad concept of sexual harassment as defined under RA 7877 and RA 11313. Part 2 discusses the salient features of RA 11313 which fill the loopholes RA 7877. Finally, the duties of each authority responsible for ensuring the strict and proper implementation of the former was listed and discussed. With this law now in force, sexual harassment may be now put to halt as it serves as a tool to dissuade the sexual harassers, or what Filipinos call “Bastos”, from committing the said acts. This law protects all genders in all spaces. It rekindles the culture of respect among all Filipinos. In the first place, every person has the right to be safe in the spaces.

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