" Strong Women, Strong World"
Nowadays, countless acts of violence against women are unavoidable. Whether it's at work, school, business, or even at home. Violence Against Women (VAW) is a pervasive social problem not just in the Philippines but worldwide, affecting an estimated 1 in 3 women. Are the laws on the books not enough to protect women? Or do most people just not really care about them? The 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reveals that nearly 1 out of 5 women have experienced emotional, physical, or sexual violence by their current or most recent husband or intimate partner. Today we will talk about laws related to violence against women.
RA 8353
(The Anti-Rape Law of 1997)
- An act expanding the definition of the crime of rape, reclassifying the same as a crime against persons, amending for the purpose act no. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the revised penal code, and for other purposes.
- Article 266-A. Rape: When And How Committed. - Rape is committed:
1. By a man who shall have carnal knowledge of a woman under any of the
following circumstances:
a. Through force, threat, or intimidation;
b. When the offended party is deprived of reason or otherwise unconscious;
c. By means of fraudulent machination or grave abuse of authority; and
d. When the offended party is under twelve (12) years of age or is demented,
even though none of the circumstances mentioned above be present.
2. By any person who, under any of the circumstances mentioned in paragraph 1
hereof, shall commit an act of sexual assault by inserting his penis into another
person's mouth or anal orifice, or any instrument or object, into the genital or anal orifice
of another person. Here are some of the important sentences for no. 2:
- By any person who, under any of the circumstances mentioned in paragraph 1
hereof, shall commit an act of sexual assault by inserting his penis into another
person's mouth or anal orifice, or any instrument or object, into the genital or anal orifice
of another person.
- When by reason or on the occasion of the rape, homicide is committed,
the penalty shall be death.
- The death penalty shall also be imposed if the crime of rape is committed
with any of the following aggravating/qualifying circumstances.
In conclusion, this R.A states the acts that are considered rape. There are many factors that aggravate the crime when a person is a victim of rape, especially women; If the victim is a minor and the offender is older than her, if the victim suffers from mental disability, and so on.
The next R.A also has something to do with VAW.
Republic Act 7877: The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995
- What is Sexual Harassment?
Under RA 7877, work, education, or training related sexual harassment is “committed by an employer, employee, manager, supervisor, agent of the employer, teacher, instructor, professor, coach, trainer, or any person who, having authority, influence or moral ascendancy over another in a work or training or education environment, demands, requests or otherwise requires any sexual favor from the other, regardless of whether the demand, request or requirement for submission is accepted or not by the object of said act.”
- How is work-related sexual harassment committed?
Work-related Sexual Harassment is committed when:
- The sexual favor is made as a condition in the hiring or in the employment, re-employment or continued employment of said individual, or in granting said individual favorable compensation, terms, conditions, promotions, or privileges; or refusal to grant the sexual favor results in limiting, segregating or classifying the employee which in any way would discriminate, deprive or diminish employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect said employee
- The above acts would impair the employee’s rights or privileges under existing labor laws; or
- The above acts would result in an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for the employee.
- How is education or training-related sexual harassment committed?
Education or Training-related Sexual Harassment is committed:
- Against one who is under the care, custody or supervision of the offender;
- Against one whose education, training, apprenticeship, or tutorship is entrusted to the offender;
- When the sexual favor is made a condition to the giving of a passing grade, or granting of honors and scholarships, or the payment of a stipend, allowance or other benefits, privileges, or considerations; or
- When the sexual advances result in an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for the student, trainee or apprentice.
We need to be active in our communities because we do not know what will happen next. For women, we must value them and think about their welfare, not only within our homes but also in society. The issue of women's security is still a current issue facing our country. Let's work together to elevate the rights of women, we should all be equal because just because they are women, they cannot contribute well to the development of our country. Let's let women lead and rule our country, let's not continue what happened in the past. What is important now is the present, and that is the rights of women that they should receive.
References:
- https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/2/2826
- https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/2/282
- https://www.ombudsman.gov.ph/GAD/Laws%20and%20Mandates/republic_act_8353.pdf
- https://images.app.goo.gl/kZSXJ9UvJJ9NeFeE7
- https://images.app.goo.gl/iXZJkLTwPoBo5fYs7
- https://images.app.goo.gl/DvkCK4mfP3c7Cy1h7
- https://images.app.goo.gl/7Hq99ycjGzjzCHKW9