PCW joins call for probe on Miss Earth sexual harassment claims

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) supports the proposal to conduct an investigation into the sexual harassment cases allegedly committed during the Miss Earth pageant this month.

The Commission was referring to Senate Resolution No. 932 filed by Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday that aims to seek an inquiry into claims made by three Miss Earth candidates against one of the pageant's sponsors.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Commission believes that the probe will shed light on the matter and pave the way to determine whether there are policy gaps pertaining to sexual harassment and gender-based violence that need to be addressed.

The PCW praised the women who stepped forward to speak about their experience of sexual harassment.

Miss Earth 2018 Canadian candidate Jaime Yvonne VandenBerg,  Abbey-Anne Gyles-Brown, Emma Mae Sheedy, and Miss International 2013 Bea Rose Santiago recounted multiple accounts of sexual harassment on social media.

The Commission encouraged other victims "to come forward, to report to authorities, and to pursue justice."

The PCW underscored that, according to a National Demographic and Health Survey done in 2017, at least five percent of women in the country aged between 15 and 49 have experienced sexual violence.

"Sexual harassment is a form of gender-based violence usually experienced by women and children. It instills fear and curtails the victim's right to liberty and security," the Commission said.

"No person, regardless of sex, age, race, social status, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, or other affiliation deserves to be sexually harassed or abused."

With this, the PCW expressed concern over recent events which, they believe, revealed that the media and entertainment industry are "also becoming unsafe for women due to vulnerability to sexual harassment and violence."

They called on relevant government agencies to probe and prosecute offenders and provide the necessary support for healing and empowerment.

Legislators, they added, could strengthen legal protection of persons against sexual offenses and expand the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law.

For the PCW, the measure should include "street harassment" like catcalling, unnecessary touching, stalking, or other acts which tend to demean or threaten a woman’s security outside workplaces and educational and training institutions.

The Commission reiterates that sexual violence should never be tolerated.  "Everyone — victim-survivors, witnesses — men and women alike — must unite to put an end to these insidious acts," it added.

Last October, the Senate passed on third and final reading a bill seeking to protect women from catcalling and other forms of street-based harassment.

Under Senate Bill No. 1326 or the "Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act of 2017,” 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