CEDAW/C/PHI/5-6
arrest/detention (6.3 percent) to disappearance (0.5 percent) and complaints (8.5 percent). The
perpetrators were identified as police officers (31.0 percent), local officials or employees (13.0
percent), civilians (12.0 percent), and military personnel (11.0 percent).
Monitoring Sexual Harassment
132. The Civil Service Commission, the labor department, and trade unions and NGOs have been
active in the anti-sexual harassment campaign (see paragraphs 373 and 375 under Article 11 for
details). By end of 2002, a trade union group has received the following reports from 259
unions and firms: the creation of a Committee on Decorum and Investigation and/or
formulation of their anti-sexual harassment policy; investigation of 432 cases by the committee
and formalization of 20 complaints; and inclusion of the issue of sexual harassment in eight
collective Bargaining Agreements.
Raising Awareness on Women’s Human Rights in Government
133. Based on the 2001 Gender and Development (GAD) Accomplishment Reports of agencies,
nearly 30 percent of the implemented GAD activities focused on capability building activities
for agency personnel. Some of these activities take the form of exposure or attendance to
GAD-related activities and celebrations such as the Women’s Month celebrations, symposia
and fora. Awareness-raising sessions such as GAD orientations and gender sensitivity training
(GST) were also conducted for personnel and top level officers of the agencies. Through these
activities, agency personnel and officers develop awareness and a clear understanding of
gender issues and GAD concepts. The awareness also helps them to better appreciate the
concerns of women in the sectors they serve.
Women in Detention
134. In response to the problem of the growing number of female and youth detainees and lack of
separate detention cells, the Bureau of Jail and Management Penology is constructing separate
cells for female and minor offenders. Likewise, Quezon City, a local government city in Metro
Manila, has a female dormitory that confines women offenders in the city.
135. Because of the risks of youth being influenced by adult offenders, separate cells for minors are
maintained in some jails. In fact, there are already two youth centers-“The Molave Youth
Homes” in Quezon City and “Operation Second Chance” in Region 7- that confine children
offenders. These centers offer the developmental needs of youth offenders. Programs like sports
and therapeutic community modality are only among the activities that youth offenders could
engage in.
D.
REMAINING ISSUES AND OBSTACLES
136. While the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law is a major step forward for the legal protection of
women, it has a number of deficiencies that need to be corrected, such as:
a. Absence of penalty to private organizations that fail to comply with the requirement to
promulgate a policy prohibiting sexual harassment and establish complaint mechanisms.
48
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