Bawal Bastos Law | RA 11313 (Safe Spaces Act)
A. No sexual harassment in schools and workplaces.
B. No sexual harassment in the streets.
C. No sexual harassment online.
D. No sexual harassment in public spaces (bars, restaurants, public transportation)
Punishable acts:
1. Physical, psychological, and emotional threats
2. Unwanted sexual misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic, and sexist remarks and comments online whether on public posts or through private messages
3. Invasion of the victim’s privacy through cyberstalking and incessant messaging
4. Recording or sharing any of the victim’s photos, videos, or information without permission
5. Impersonating victims’ identities
6. Posting lies about victims to harm their reputation and filing false abuse reports to online platforms to silence victims.
Penalties:
1. Maximum of 6 years in prison
2. Fine of not less than Php 100,000
Fines and Penalties
R.A. 11313 Safe Spaces Act
Bawal Bastos Law
Republic Act 11313, otherwise known as the Safe Spaces Act, provides for the policy of the State to value the dignity of every human person and guarantee full respect for human rights.
It likewise provides that the State recognizes the role of women in nation-building and ensures the fundamental equality before the law of women and men.
The State also recognizes that both men and women must have equality, security, and safety not only in private but also on the streets, public spaces, online, in workplaces, and in educational and training institutions.
1st Degree Offenses:
1st Offense: Php 1,000 fine and 12 hours community service with Gender Sensitivity Seminar
2nd Offense: Php 1,000 fine and 6 to 10 days imprisonment.
3rd Offense: Php 10,000 fine and 11 to 30 days imprisonment.
Punishable Acts:
- Any statement that has made an invasion of a person’s sense of personal safety.
- Persistent telling of sexual jokes.
- Use of sexual names, comments, and demands.
- Identify and/or expression including sexist, homophobic, transphobic statements and slurs.
- Use of words, gestures, or actions that ridicule on the basis of sex, gender, or sexual orientation.
- Relentless requests for personal details such as name, contact, and social media details or destination.
- Persistent unwanted comments on one’s appearance.
- Misogynistic, transphobic, homophobic, and sexist slurs.
- Taunting unwanted invitations.
- Leering and intrusive gazing.
- Wolf-whistling.
- Catcalling.
2nd Degree Offenses
1st Offense: Php 10,000 and 12 hours community service with Gender Sensitivity Seminar.
2nd Offense: Php 15,000 fine and 11 to 30 days imprisonment.
3rd Offense: Php 20,000 fine and 1 month and 1 day to 6 months imprisonment.
Punishable Acts:
- Making offensive body gestures at someone.
- Public masturbation.
- Flashing private parts.
- Groping.
- Similar lewd actions.
3rd Degree Offenses
1st Offense: Php 30,000 fine and 11 to 30 days imprisonment with Gender Sensitivity Seminar.
2nd Offense: Php 50,000 fine and 1 month and 1 day to 6 months imprisonment.
3rd Offense: Php 100,000 fine and 4 months and 1 day to 6 months imprisonment.
Punishable Acts:
- Stalking.
- Sexual advances, gestures, and statements mentioned previously with pinching or brushing against the body of the offended person.
- Touching, pinching, or brushing against the genitalia, face, arms, groin, breasts, inner thighs, buttocks, or any part of the victim’s body.
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