QUEZON CITY — In preparation for the 18-day campaign to end violence against women, the Department of Science and Technology-Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII) held an awareness seminar on the Safe Spaces Act (SSA) and other related laws for its staff on November 12 at its office in Bicutan, Taguig City.
Atty. Shangrila C. Quezon, a Certified Member of the Philippine Commission on Women’s (PCW) National Gender and Development (GAD) Resource Pool and Manager at the Operations Department of the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), led the seminar as the resource speaker. She provided an insightful comparison between the Safe Spaces Act and the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act (ASHA).
This initiative also underscored the importance of the Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI) guidelines in the workplace.
One of the key distinctions she highlighted was that while ASHA focuses on penalizing sexual harassers within work, education, and training-related environments, the SSA expands its scope to include gender-based offenses committed by strangers in public spaces and online platforms.
Atty. Quezon also explained the duties of employers in preventing and addressing sexual harassment.
“Victims don’t come forward because of the fear of retaliation,” she remarked, emphasizing that under the SSA, employees are empowered to press charges against offenders, even if the harasser is their employer. She encouraged staff members to speak up and exercise their rights.
She also stressed that gender-based sexual harassment—including acts like catcalling, homophobic and sexist remarks, slurs, and stalking—should not be dismissed or taken lightly. In addition, she clarified the concepts of unjust vexation and acts of lasciviousness, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the legal definitions and consequences of such actions.
The seminar fostered an open and supportive environment, allowing participants to ask questions and share experiences related to harassment and discrimination.
As DOST-STII continues to provide critical services such as library management, media relations, and capacity-building activities, ensuring the protection of rights and promoting a safe and inclusive workplace remain paramount. Initiatives like this seminar underline the Institute’s commitment to fostering a culture of respect and safety for all its stakeholders. (DOST-STII)
