Like many of my sisters in the Provincial Council for Women, the recent reports about a male university student posting an indecent comment on Facebook against Vice President Leni Robredo makes me mad and sad at the same time. Mad, because this young person did an online “pambabastos”. How easy it was for him to use violent or derogatory words directed at the highest woman leader of our country at that.
Sad, because of the fact that the sexual harassment happened while we are observing the 18-Day Campaign To End Violence Against Women. Lamentable, indeed.
The women of Talisay City, where the student lives, vowed to make a statement regarding this online sexual harassment during their event this Tuesday in connection with the 18-day celebration. I am sure they would condemn the act and think of ways to move forward so that this misconduct will not happen again.
We need to educate the public about the Safe Spaces Act, or Republic Act 11313, the law that defines gender-based sexual harassment on streets, in public spaces, online, at workplaces and educational or training Institutions, and provides protective measures and penalties.
In line with this, our Provincial GAD Fund, through the Negros Occidental Language Information and Technology Center, has been conducting the GAD Webinar Series which have been streamed live via Youtube and Facebook since Nov. 24. For Dec. 1 and 2, the topics will be Cyber Security for Women and Children, and Digital Parenting, respectively. Mental Health and Wellness, and VAWC and Sexual Harassment, are slated on Dec. 3 and 4.
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We have all heard the saying, “The internet is forever.” Whatever you post online will stay there even if you delete or remove it. We have to be careful and mindful of the things we post. While the Internet has brought us many wonderful things, it has also facilitated new forms of violence, including some that are truly damaging, from cyberstalking to slander.
The BSIT student of the University of St. La Salle appeared to be one of the many foul-mouthed boys and men on the internet. We should not be too surprised when, as I have noticed, some public officials say and do the same things on mainstream media and get away with it.
When this happens, some netizens think it’s okay to do the same, too. Some even hide behind anonymous accounts just to send threats. If they can do it to Vice President Robredo, what more to us ordinary women?
A VAW-free community includes ensuring that the online platform is also a safe space for all genders. To women, who, in one way or another have experienced or are experiencing sexual harassment online, it is time to take the control back. Tell them that what he/she/they did was not okay.
Speaking up and calling out are hard, but there are some of the ways we can start the conversation and hope to change the offenders. Know that you are not alone! We are here for you. – NWI
*Bantay Bastos Facebook Page and Facebook Group hope to build a community and movement against online (and offline) GBV. Together, we can make a difference.
