Mayor Herbert Bautista and UN Women Join Hands with Men Opposing Violence Against Women

[Press Release]

Quezon City – Quezon’s City Administrator Mr. Aldrin Cuña, representing Mayor Hon. Herbert Bautista, encouraged all men to speak out against street harassment and sexual violence against women in our cities.

At an event attended by over 100 male advocates opposing violence against women, Mayor Bautista asserted that men can be agents of change. Men are key in eliminating all forms of gender-based violence particularly street harassment and sexual violence in our city streets.

The event titled, Building Image through Safe Cities and Safe Communities, is the kick-off activity of Men Opposed to Violence Everywhere (MOVE) for the 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women, held every year from November 25 to December 12.

Mayor Bautista also proudly reported that the Quezon City government has partnered with UN Women to implement the Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces Global Initiative. QC is the first city in Metro Manila to join over 24 cities around the world in the programme to stop street harassment and sexual violence against women in public spaces with the support of the Spanish Cooperation for International Development (AECID).

The city stands one with the United Nations Women (UN Women) and the rest of the nation during the 18-day Campaign, highlighting the issue of street harassment and all forms of sexual violence that women experience as they move about in the city – using public transport, lining up in terminals, going to markets/malls, and even just walking home in their own neighborhoods.

Whether due to shame or fear, women traditionally ignore and keep silent about catcalls, stalking, repeated harassment for their numbers, male public exposure, rubbing or groping (panghihipo) inside the MRT/ jeepneys, even bearing indecent language being yelled at them by men as they walk by.

During this period, UN Women also launches the 4Rs to Stop Street Harassment: Realize, Respond, Report and Reform. (1) Women should realize their rights. (2) People should respond to the harassers and talk back, if they are harassed or witness a sexual harassment. (3) Report the experiences on social media and to friends and support groups, do not stay silent. People can also report to the police and barangay hall because sexual harassment in against the Quezon City GAD Code. (4) We all need to change the culture that tolerates sexual harassment and violence in our city streets.

FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/UNWomenSafeCitiesFreeFromFearCampaign/ Visit the page and join the Quezon City government and UN Women in their call – We want Safe Cities where Women are #FreeFromFear!

See also Adobe Acrobat version of this press release: Mayor Herbert Bautista and UN Women Join Hands with Men Opposing Violence Against Women

For more information contact:

Katherine (Cookee) Belen
UN Women Safe Cities, National Project Officer
Email: Katherine.belen@unwomen.org