According to the BBC report on July 16, the bill is called the safe space act. Although the bill was signed as early as April this year, Philippine officials chose to release the news on Monday and did not explain the specific reasons for the delay.
Based on the act, sexual harassment in any public place will be strictly prohibited, including streets, offices, places of entertainment and buses. At the same time, the acts of sexual harassment mentioned in the bill are clearly defined, including but not limited to obscenity, stalking and insults with gender discrimination or distorted female image.
Business places such as restaurants and cinemas are required to post signs warning potential sexual harassment and telephone hotlines for the public to report criminal acts. In addition to offline places, whether it is forum speech or private chat information, sexual harassment speech in cyberspace will also be regulated.
According to the Philippine news agency, the official Philippine media, violators will be fined from 10 to 500000 Philippine pesos (about 135-67350 yuan), and even face a prison term of 6 days to 6 months.
As the main drafter of the bill, opposition senator and female rights activist Lisa & sdot; In her words, Lisa Hontiveros could not hide her excitement, saying that the passage of the bill was a 'major victory'. 'through this law, we will recapture our streets from sexual harassment and gender prejudice, so that public places are safe for everyone.'
The Gabriela women & rsquo; s party, which advocates women's rights, believes that this new legislation is the result of efforts to eliminate relevant legal gaps after various women's groups face an alarming increase in sexual harassment in public.
According to Reuters, Philippine women's rights activists, while praising the bill, also pointed out that a major challenge facing the bill comes from duterte himself. 'if President duterte continues to make remarks that do not respect women and can not serve as an example, others will easily violate the law.' jerien & sdot; paklalin, a member of the Philippine women's rights group (Jelen paclarin) expressed many people's doubts.
Although he enjoys high public support in the Philippines, duterte is often controversial because of his amazing words. In December 2018, duterte blew himself up in a speech that he tried to 'touch' the domestic maid in his youth, and then the spokesman came forward to clarify that it was just a joke.
In response to the doubts of the outside world about duterte himself, President spokesman panillo told the New York Times that President duterte's signing means that he will respect the bill.