In a move to address misogyny and sexism in the country’s public transport, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) launched on Thursday, Nov. 25, the “Safe Spaces Now: Right The Ride” campaign.
The campaign was launched in partnership with the United Nations Country Team, Wunderman and Thompson, National Confederation of Transport Union, Mandaluyong Alliance Transport Service Cooperative, Metro Manila Development Authority, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and Share the Care Campaign Team.
CHR Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit, focal commissioner on women’s rights, said the CHR with its campaign, takes part in this year’s 18 days of activism that will focus on the full implementation of the Safe Spaces Act under Republic Act No. 11313, known as “Bawal Bastos Law.”
“We are very proud of this campaign and we are very thankful for Wunderman and Thompson for helping us develop a campaign that focused on addressing rampant sexism, misogyny and other forms of gender-based violence in public spaces,” Dumpit said in a statement.
“We are still faced with many barriers. While many promises of the law remain unfulfilled, we will be together in seeking accountability and in working together to make spaces safe for all, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized,” she said.
During the launch of the campaign in Mandaluyong City, CHR said that jeepneys transformed into vehicles promoting the Safe Spaces Act, bearing empowering messages, and calling for respect for all.
“Jeepneys are the most recognizable Filipino icon, but oftentimes, because of misogynistic and sexist messages, they become unsafe spaces. With this campaign, we right the ride! We work with transport groups and partner agencies in the call for safe spaces for all,” Dumpit stressed.
At the same time, Dumpit called on the government to address all forms of violence against women as she stressed CHR’s plea to eliminate of all forms of violence especially as against women human rights defenders.
“We call out violence against women committed by third parties in public spaces, and more so those committed by agents of the State --those especially meant to silence dissent, to stifle calls for accountability, and those specifically targeting human rights advocate and defenders,” she appealed.