THE local government of Manila has officially declared its support to the United Nations (UN) Women’s flagship initiative “Safe Cities and Safe Public Places”—the second in the country and among the 23 global cities—to address street harassment, foster respect and sensitivity and empower the female populace.
“The Safe Cities campaign will have a strong partner in the Philippines,” Mayor Joseph E. Estrada said as he led the declaration during a media briefing of the city officials held at the Bulwagang Villegas of the Manila City Hall on Tuesday.
He said the city upholds the sanctity of life and the dignity of its people and, at the same time, recognize the right of everyone to live and work with honor and become free and safe from any threat.
“The City of Manila accounts itself a city for the future. Therefore, it is a city where decency and respect for all will always be of the highest importance,” he said.
In so doing, the local chief executive noted that there is “no tolerance for words or actions, which tend to insult or cause fear in others, especially the women of our city.”
According to him, the city government—as a show of protection to the public, especially the women, from any harm—has allocated more than P300 million to improve public infrastructures in Manila, particularly for additional street lighting that would help deter possible sexual harassment by perpetrators at large.
Charisse Jordan, national program officer for UN Women Safe Cities Global Initiatives, lauded such initiative to make the city safe and free from any kind of abuse.
She underscored that “globally, engaging with duty-bearers, such as local governments is central to UN Women’s strategy for the implementation of the Safe Cities program.”
Women and girls alike fear and experience different types of sexual violence in public places, from unwanted remarks and touching, to rape and femicide.
In 2013 the UN Commission for the Status of Women identified various forms of sexual violence against women and girls in public spaces as a distinct area of concern, and called on governments to prevent it.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has set “the elimination of all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres” as one of its specific goals.
Harassment is widespread in the streets of the country’s capital, according to Manila’s women leaders as they themselves shared the experiences and sentiments of their constituents.
If left unsolved, they pointed out that it has and will continue to have adverse effects on women’s well-being, mobility and sense of security.
Initiatives for Life and Actions of Women (Ilaw) ng Maynila Program Director Jerika Ejercito called for urgent need for intervention programs and redress mechanisms to address catcalling and other forms of abuse against women in public areas.
She said that Manileñas should lead the way in sending a message that there is no dishonor in being a victim or a survivor of sexual violence “as the shame will always be on the perpetrator.”
During the conference, officials of the City of Manila Council shared their views on the issues and discussed their plans and proposed interventions.
Councilor Krystle Bacani of the Fourth District showed the salient details of the measure she authored, Draft Ordinance 7857, that “prohibits and penalizes all forms of sexual harassment in public places, such as cursing, wolf whistling, catcalling, leering and others.”
The Committee on Women chairman told reporters in a sideline interview that there will be penalties imposed to offenders of such ordinance, which she hopes to be passed by next year.
“Under the draft ordinance, those found guilty of committing the previously mentioned prohibited acts are punishable with imprisonment ranging from one day to six months and fine from P1,000 to P10,000,” Bacani said.
“They will also undergo a mandatory Gender Sensitivity Seminar to be administered by the PNP [Philippine National Police] and the Philippine Commission on Women,” she added.
Meanwhile, Fourth District Councilor Bimbo Quintos, chairman of the Committee on Laws, talked about his proposal to institutionalize a case-management manual for cases-related to sexual harassment in public sites.
Councilor Casimiro Sison of the Sixth District, majority floor leader of the council, committed to facilitate the immediate passage of the two proposed measures.
While Manila leads the drive against street harassment toward women, Estrada is confident that majority of his constituents, especially men, will remain respectful of everybody most especially to the opposite sex.
“I believe the gentlemen in our city far outnumber those whose manners and actions do not conform to what we call decent behavior,” he said.