Senate OKs bill against catcalling, street harassment

The Senate passed on third and final reading Monday a bill seeking to protect women from catcalling and other forms of street-based harassment.

Senator Risa Hontiveros hailed the passage of Senate Bill No. 1326 or the "Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act of 2017” as a big step against what she called the "growing culture of misogyny and sexism in the country."

“At a time when sexism and misogyny seem to be the new normal, this is an important victory for all women and LGBT persons. This is a major push back against street-based sexual harassment and the culture of sexism in the country,” the chairperson of the Senate committee on women said in a press statement.

She expressed hope that with the passage of the bill, “we will reclaim the streets from sexual harassers and make them safe for all.”

The senator also expects the bill to trigger a behavioral change among Filipinos.

"Through this measure, we hope to progressively change the people’s language habits, prevent different forms of gender-based harassment and convince the public of the positive effects of gender-sensitive expression,” she said.

Under Senate Bill No. 1326, catcalling, wolf-whistling, cursing, leering, and groping will be penalized.

Persistent requests for name and contact details and the use of words tending to ridicule on the basis of actual or perceived sex, gender expression, or sexual orientation and identity in public spaces will also be penalized. — BAP, GMA News