The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) called on appropriate agencies to investigate “erring” content creators that promote sexual harassment, child abuse, and exploitation.
“Recently a concerned citizen brought to our attention a social media page and video streaming platform channel that produces prank videos with various pranks showing the creators suddenly holding the hands of unsuspecting women in public, laying their heads onto women’s laps, and catcalling people,” said PCW in a press statement on Wednesday, Aug. 10.
These pranks, according to PCW, can be interpreted as acts “bordering” sexual harassment, adding that these type of videos tend to “normalize demeaning behaviors” and promoting the belief that entering women’s personal space is reasonable.
“Acts done in the streets and public spaces and committed through any unwanted and uninvited sexual actions or remarks against any person regardless of the motive for committing such action can come under the purview of gender-based sexual harassment,” PCW reiterated, highlighting that this is the “core principle” of the Safe Spaces Act.
The Commission likewise slammed a recently flagged streaming platform for “encouraging and even giving advice to the subscribers about grooming minors.”
“PCW has been coordinating with the authorities on the appropriate measures that must be taken. While the channel which garnered more than 250,000 subscribers has already been taken down, the possibility of the perpetrator using other platforms to post content about potential abuse cannot be dismissed,” it added.
Meanwhile, PCW also called on appropriate agencies to investigate all content creators who will promote such acts of abuse and exploitation.