MANILA – The Senate approved on its third and final reading on Monday a bill that seeks to protect women from catcalling and other street-level harassment.
Aside from catcalling, the “Safe Streets and Public Spaces” bill seeks to penalize wolf-whistling, cursing, leering, groping, and persistent requests for name and contact details of a person.
Senate Bill 1326 also seeks to punish the use of words tending to ridicule on the basis of actual or perceived sex, gender expression, or sexual orientation and identity in public spaces.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, principal author of the proposed measure, called the passage of the bill “a major push back” against the “growing culture of misogyny and sexism in the country.”
The opposition senator considers this, and the ratification of the 105-day maternity leave law, massive victories for the health and welfare of women. (ABS-CBN News)
