by Adobo

Quezon City has pioneered a law to stop street harassment. Partnering with UN Women to implement the Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces Global Initiative, this move aims to make streets and public spaces such as transport terminals and PUVs safer for women and girls, who constantly face threats to their safety in various forms such as catcalling, wolf-whistling, and groping. Through this initiative, the Quezon City local government enforces punishment and penalties to sex offenders who threaten safe spaces.

image source:  UN WOMEN Asia and the Pacific http://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/countries/philippines/safe-cities-metro-manila

Like any law, I believe that the key to ensuring the effectiveness of Quezon City’s safe spaces initiative is the participation and active involvement of the people. This particular ordinance relies heavily on the people’s efforts not just in reporting the acts of sexual harassment but also in fostering an environment where it cannot continue to exist, and I believe it starts in the most basic of social units – the family.

Even before children start attending school, they are educated by their parents and elders about societal norms as well as what constitutes acceptable behavior. The home is where the values that children grow up with are reinforced, and as such, it is important to recognize the role that the family plays in helping to create safe spaces. At a young age, children must be taught the importance of consent as well as respecting others’ personal space. I strongly believe that instead of teaching young girls to take care of themselves and take precautionary measures against predatory men, young boys should be taught the importance of consent. In this day and age, I believe misogyny and entitlement are no longer acceptable, and with the modernization of our society, it is only natural that we abandon barbaric ways of thinking that belittle and oppress women, and instead champion equality and mutual respect.

As a student, there are many ways for me (and others like me) to fulfill my role in this certain governance initiative. These include:

• Having no tolerance for sexual harassment – I will not tolerate any act of sexual harassment committed against me and anyone I know, and I will make sure to report to the proper authorities.  
• Being vocal and advocating for safe spaces – By using my voice to be a positive influence on my peers as well as the people around me, I will advocate for the creation of safe spaces through raising awareness and encouraging others to do the same.
• Educating others on steps they can take to help create more safe spaces
• Being respectful of personal boundaries

By practicing some of these simple steps, I can help create safe spaces and fight against sexual harassment. Along with institutional reforms that penalize violators to produce concrete results, I hope that in the future, every girl and woman will be able to walk the streets without worrying about being harassed and threatened. It will take time and genuine involvement from the people, but by working together, we can create safe spaces for everyone.

Related links:

UN WOMEN Asia and the Pacific (2015) To walk the streets of Quezon City without fear of violence against women. retrieved from: http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2015/12/to-walk-the-streets-of-quezon-city-without-fear-of-violence-against-women

UN WOMEN Asia and the Pacific (n.d.) Safe cities – Philippines. retrieved from: http://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/countries/philippines/safe-cities-metro-manila

UN WOMEN Asia and the Pacific (2016) QC’s Pioneering Law to Stop Street Harassment. retrieved from: http://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/news-and-events/stories/2016/03/qcs-pioneering-law-to-stop-street-harassment

Quezon City Local Government (2018) The Quezon Safe City Model: Ensuring Public Safety and Addressing Sexual Violence in Public Spaces. retrieved from: http://quezoncity.gov.ph/index.php/latest-news/item/22-the-quezon-safe-city-model-ensuring-public-safety-and-addressing-sexual-violence-in-public-spaces