Implementing rules for 'Bawal Bastos' Law signed

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Monday led the signing of the implementing rules and
regulations of Republic Act No. 11313, also known as the Safe Spaces Act or the "Bawal Bastos" Law, of
which she was principal sponsor and author at the Senate.

Hontiveros, who is also the chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and
Gender Equality, said that passage of the act would reform laws and policies surrounding gender-based
public harassment. 

"The Bawal Bastos Law is a game changer," she said. "It will promote positive policy, behavioral and
cultural changes to end gender-based harassment in public spaces."Although Congress writes the laws,
agencies of the executive branch are in charge of coming out with IRRs that serve as more specific
instructions on how the law will be implemented.

The Safe Spaces Act, which aims at bolstering the country's legal framework in the area of sexual and
gender-based harrassment, was signed on April 17 and came into effect in August.

Under Republic Act 11313, acts such as sexual harassment, staring, stalking, catcalling or taunting on the
basis of one's gender are punishable by law and can warrant fines of up to P20,000. This covers both
online and physical spaces. 

"Babaguhin nito ang ating pag-uugali at paggamit ng ating lengwahe sa mga kababaihan at LGBT,"
Hontiveros said at the IRR's signing ceremony in Ortigas.

(This will change how we act towards and speak to women and the LGBTs)

"Magtutulak ito ng bago at positibong kultura sa mga Pilipino kapalit ng kultura ng kabastusan at
karahasan sa ating lansangan."

(This will push a new and positive culture among Filipnos to replace the culture of vulgarity and violence
on our streets)

The Philippine Commission on Women held a series of eight nationwide consultations before signing the
IRR.

In a press release, Hontiveros said that the law was subjected to "intense review by government
agencies, advocacy groups and members of the academe."

Bawal Bastos declares as State policy the "role of women in nation-building" and the "fundamental
equality before the law of both men and women."

FAST FACTS: How does the Safe Spaces Act protect you?

The Safe Spaces Act, now fully enforced, protects everyone from sexual harassment both in physical and
online spaces, and not just by persons in authority

BAWAL BASTOS. The law protects individuals from gender-based sexual harassment in public, private,
and online spaces.

MANILA, Philippines – The Safe Spaces Act enacted earlier this year now has implementing rules and
regulations in force.

It is closely related to the first Anti-Sexual Harassment Act (RA 7877) of 1995. This “Bawal Bastos” law
penalizes catcalling, wolf-whistling, misogynistic and homophobic slurs, unwanted sexual advances, and
other forms of sexual harassment in public places, workplaces, schools, as well as in online spaces.

According to Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (Saligan) lawyer JC Tejano, safe spaces only used to
mean private property. When the 1995 law came out, safe spaces were expanded to the public domain
– legally described to be in work, educational, and training facilities. 

The new Safe Spaces Act expands them even further, to public spaces like streets and malls, and even in
cyberspace.