Filipino women might just feel a little safer walking the streets of Manila now that there is an ordinance penalizing catcalling. This is similar to that of Quezon City wherein street-level harassers are penalized. Ordinance No. 7857 is sponsored by Manila District 4 Councilor Krystle Bacani. This “will penalize all forms of sexual harassment in public spaces such as catcalling, wolf-whistling, leering, groping, and many others.”
Once it was passed, Sen. Risa Hontiveros shared her excitement. “The passage of this landmark measure is a big victory for women and safe spaced advocates. It is historic and groundbreaking. An anti-catcalling ordinance in the country’s capital is a big boost to the campaign to protect its women from daily street harassment and a clear policy shift on the part of our local government. This will certainly serve as an inspiration as we push for the passage of a similar policy on the national level.”
We’re glad that little by little, safe spaces are becoming a priority of government. And we also hope that these rules do spread outside of Quezon City and Manila.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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