Tarlac State University- College of Criminal Justice Education conducted a seminar in San Manuel High School entitled “Symposium on the Anti-Bastos Law or the Safe Space Act or RA No. 11313” last February 3, 2023.The said activity aimed to educate the students on how to ensure an individual’s sense of personal space and public safety. The law focus on gender-based sexual harassment in public areas such as streets, privately-owned places open to the public, and public utility vehicles, among others. It also included the protection even to cyberspace and provides for prohibited acts and their corresponding penalties.
The seminar includes faculty experts from Criminal Justice Education department, namely Ms. Marie Marie Fe F. Buscayno, Ms, Girlie L. Bautista, Mr. Francis D. Bicoy, and Mr. Jairus C. Soriano.
The seminar covered the following topics, Article I Gender-Based Streets and Public Spaces, Effects of Sexual Harassment, Article II Gender-Based Online Sexual Harassment and Article IV Gender-Based Sexual Harassment in the Workplace.
Ms. Marie Fe Buscayno, started the discussion by addressing the crimes of any unwanted and uninvited sexual actions or remarks against anyone. Those are considered gender-based street harassment and are illegal regardless of the motivation behind the action or remarks. She identified several cases of gender-based street harassment, including catcalling, wolf-whistling, unwanted invitations, misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic, and sexist slurs, persistent requests for personal information, expression of sexual comments and suggestions, public masturbation or flashing of private parts, groping, or any unwanted verbal or physical advances that have threatened one's safety.
The second topic, the long-term effects of sexual harassment, was discussed by Ms. Girlie Bautista. It's possible that there's physical, mental, and emotional effects. Anger, humiliation, shame, and a sense of helplessness are a few of the emotions that sexual harassment victims may feel. Dealing with uncomfortable and inappropriate behavior at work starts to drain your emotions. Additional side effects of sexual harassment can include weight loss, altered sleeping patterns, anxiety, increased stress, and a decline in self-esteem.
Mr. Francis Bicoy talked about the importance of Article II, which states that actions that use technology to terrorize and intimidate victims through verbal, physical, and emotional abuse; unwanted sexual remarks and comments made online, whether in public or through direct and private messages; invasion of victim's privacy through cyberstalking and persistent messaging; and uploading and sharing without the victim's consent are all examples of gender-based online sexual harassment.
Lastly, Mr. Jairus Soriano suggested that in order to make it simpler for students and staff to file complaints, every school should adopt and publish grievance procedures. He also stated that school officials should launch an investigation right away to evaluate the authenticity of any information or knowledge they may have regarding a potential or impending act of gender-based sexual harassment or sexual violence, as well as the circumstances surrounding the act, even if a student or member of the staff does not wish to file a complaint or ask the school to take any action on behalf of a student or faculty member. He emphasized that after a perpetrator is proven to have committed a crime, the educational institution may reserve the right to revoke their diploma or order their expulsion.
