Senate Committees on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality;
and Science and Technology
August 23, 2017
The Philippine Society for SRH Nurses, Inc.
(PSORHN) respectfully submits to the Senate Committees on Women, Children, Family
Relations and Gender Equality; and Science and Technology this position paper which outlines the
rationale for the support of the Society for the pending bills intended for
penalizing violence against women and the LGBTQ online.
PSORHN recognizes the
following:
1. Violence Againt
Women and the LGBTQ online is an issue of health, due to the mental anguish
experienced by victims. Several months ago, a woman in a casual sexual relationship
consulted the Society. Her partner uploaded some of her photos in intimate
positions on the man’s fake Facebook account. Her face was shrouded in
darkness, but discerible to those who know her. Despite begging through text,
call, and Messenger, the said photos were only taken down after three hours.
Within that time, the photo had already gained views and comments. The man
apologized. The woman reported experiencing depression and suicidal ideation.
She also indulged in self harm. These symptoms are parallel to the
psychological symptoms experieced by victims of sexual violence outside
cyberspace.
2. Violence Againt
Women and the LGBTQ online is an impediment to gender equality, as violence is
used to silence women and the LGBTQ by blocking their access to ICT use and
freedom of expression. People’s full use of freedom of expression online has
become a standard in cyberspace. With the rapid progress of ICT, people’s
voices online have become catalysts for broader social movements. The powers to
mobilize and bring about change through social media have been proven time and
again. Violence Against Women and the LGBTQ is a means to silence the voice the
marginalized. Because of threats of sexual violence and physical harm,
harassment, misogyny, and homophobia, these marginalized sectors have no other
recourse but retreat from the social media sphere, losing a powerful platform
of expression. Violence Against Women and the LGBTQ is an impediment not simply
to freedom of expression, but the right of women and the LGBTQ to participate
in discourse that may set in motion significant positive social change.
3. Violence Against
Women and the LGBTQ normalizes violence against women and LGBTQ, as cyberspace
becomes a safe space for people to harass, sexualize, and threaten people with
very little repercussion due to the identified policy gaps of the proponents of
the bills penalizing online violence. Should such law be passed, it will not
only extend judicial protection over victims, but act as a deterrent to future
perpetrators.
Given such truths, PSORHN supports
the crafting and passage of a law penalizing Violence Againt Women and the LGBTQ
and respectfully recommends the body adopts the term “Gender Based Electronic
Violence” (GBEV) as opposed to Electronic Violence Against Women (E-VAW). GBEV,
as defined in Senate Bill 1251, includes LGBTQ along with women as end users of
the legislation. On the other hand, it is observed that Senate Bill 180 expands
the Anti VAWC Law to cyberspace, the bill limits protection to women who has
had sexual or dating relationships with their abusers, and the children of
these women. As LGBTQ is often at the
receiving end of harassment, threats, and homophobia online, the same legal
protection must be extended to them.
Janina Gillian O. Santos, RN, SRHN, FPSORHN
Incorporator
Philippine
Society of SRH Nurses, Inc.
