IRR of ‘game-changing’ Bawal Bastos Law signed

MANILA, Philippines — The “game-changing” Bawal Bastos Law will push for a new and positive culture and attitude among Filipinos and will lead to the eventual discarding of lewd and violent behavior in streets, schools, workplaces and online, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said as the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the measure were signed yesterday.

“This is a historic day. At last, the Bawal Bastos Law now has an IRR. The days of lewd men and other persons who will do gender-based public harassment are now numbered,” Hontiveros said in Filipino.

The senator, the principal sponsor of the law, said once implementation is in full swing, the law will reform existing policies on gender-based public harassment.

“This law will change our attitude and use of language against women and members of the LGBT community,” said Hontiveros, who is also chair of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality.

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and the Technical Drafting Committee (TDC) signed yesterday the IRR of Republic Act 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act (Bawal Bastos) Law, which was signed by President Duterte last April.

According to the law, actions or deeds considered as gender-based harassment in public spaces are defined as unwanted and uninvited sexual actions or remarks against any person, regardless of motives.

These acts include catcalling, wolf-whistling, unwanted invitations, misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic and sexist slurs, persistent uninvited comments or gestures on a person’s appearance; relentless requests for personal details, statement of sexual comments and suggestions; public masturbation or flashing of private parts, groping or any unwanted advances.

It also included gender-based online sexual harassments such as acts that use the information and communications technology in terrorizing and intimidating victims through physical, psychological and emotional threats, unwanted misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic and sexist remarks and comments online.

The law also strengthens the administrative actions against sexual harassment in workplaces and in education and training institutions, while recognizing that sexual harassment may be committed even between peers, or by a student to a teacher, or a trainee to a trainer.

Hontiveros said the IRR was subjected to intense review by government agencies, advocacy groups and members of academe, which will pave the way for the law’s full, just and effective implementation. 

“I am confident that the IRR is appropriate and sufficient to ensure that the provisions of the law are easily understood, that offenders will be held accountable while ensuring due process and, most importantly, that victims are assured of justice and assistance to help them recover and move on,” Hontiveros said. 

Hontiveros thanked various government agencies led by the PCW and partner organizations, advocates and women and LGBT groups that worked hard in drafting the measure’s IRR.