Employees’ Awareness of Safe Spaces Act of 2019
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.156719Keywords:
Awareness of Safe Spaces Act of 2019, employees, gender-based harassmentAbstract
Sexual harassment continues to be a serious issue in academic institutions, prompting the enactment of the Safe Spaces Act of 2019 (RA 11313) in the Philippines, which expands the definition of gender-based harassment to include public spaces, online platforms, workplaces, and schools. This study assessed the awareness of university employees in the Negros Island Region regarding the law and its provisions, using a descriptive research design with 207 respondents surveyed via a validated questionnaire. Most respondents were younger, female, single, college-educated, and employed as teaching personnel. Findings revealed a high overall awareness of the law, with online harassment scoring the lowest. No significant differences in awareness were found based on sex, civil status, education, or job classification, though age showed a significant impact on awareness of online harassment. These results indicate that while awareness programs are generally effective, there is a need for targeted efforts to address knowledge gaps in digital harassment and age-specific exposure. The study recommends enhancing digital literacy campaigns, regular harassment training with practical scenarios, and improved campus safety measures. Institutions should maintain consistent awareness content while introducing age-appropriate strategies to ensure inclusivity. Strengthening these initiatives is essential to transforming the Safe Spaces Act from a legal mandate into a lived reality, fostering a culture of safety, respect, and accountability in academic environments.
References
Azizul, F., Kamarudin, D., Zakaria, H., Mutalif, A. Z. A., & Abdullah, A. (2023). Sexual Harassment at workplace: Awareness among employer and employees in Pekan, Pahang. International Journal of Entrepreneurship, Business and Technology, 1(1).
Balita. (2024). Statistics on domestic and workplace violence against women.
Bauer, E., & Gorlewicz, K. (2022). Sexual harassment in public spaces: A global review of prevention strategies. Violence Against Women, 28(3–4), 1031–1052. https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012211003128:contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
Baqutayan, S. M. S., Salah, A., Jusman, J., Sharudin, S., Muhamad, S., & Saleh, A. (2021). Is sexual harassment an issue in Malaysia? level of awareness among workforce. Journal of Techno-Social, 13(1), 1-11.
Beck, L., & Kavanaugh, D. (2022). Organizational tolerance and the prevalence of sexual harassment: A mixed-methods study.
Bhandari, P. (2022). Ethical considerations in research: Types & examples. Scribbr. https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/research-ethics/
Blumell, L. E., & Mulupi, D. (2025). The impact of anti-sexual harassment policies on sexual harassment prevention in the workplace. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 37(1), 89-109.
Bolatete, M. C. M., Rojo, K. P. T., Sarmiento, C. N. T., Viana, D. J. L., Yu, W. L., Fernando-Raguro, M. C., & Lagman, A. C. (2022, December). CHARLIE: A digital awareness campaign with reporting system on online sexual harassment for UNFPA Philippines. In 2022 IEEE 14th international conference on humanoid, nanotechnology, information technology, communication and control, environment, and management (HNICEM) (pp. 1-5). IEEE.
Chaudhuri, P. (2022). Building safer public spaces: The importance of open conversations and institutional support. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(13–14), NP11642–NP11665. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605211040125:contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
Cortina, L. M., & Areguin, M. A. (2021). Putting people down and pushing them out: Sexual harassment in the workplace. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 8, 285–309. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-012420-083711:contentReference[oaicite:27]{index=27}
Commission on Human Rights (CHR). (n.d.). Community-level responses to gender-based violence in the Philippines
Commission on Human Rights. (n.d.). CHR launches campaign to address gender-based online sexual harassment. Retrieved from https://chr.gov.ph
Cummings, A., & Thomas, G. (2021). Cross-cultural perspectives on university student responses to sexual harassment.
David, C. C., San Pascual, M. R., & Torrevillas, C. A. (2021). Awareness and compliance of college students and faculty with the Safe Spaces Act in the Philippines. Asia Pacific Social Science Review, 21(1), 84–97.
David, F. P., Reyes, D. B., & De Vela, J. R. (2020). Workplace sexual harassment in Philippine universities: Awareness, reporting behavior, and institutional responses. Philippine Journal of Psychology, 53(1), 78–94.
De Leon, M. V., & Labastilla, J. A. (2021). Public awareness and compliance with the Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313) among Filipino commuters and workers. Journal of Social Science and Humanities
De Vera-Ruiz, E. (2023, December 11). CSC orders gov’t agencies to step up efforts to combat workplace sexual harassment. Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/11/csc-orders-gov-t-agencies-to-step-up-efforts-to-combat-workplace-sexual-harassment:contentReference[oaicite:47]{index=47}
Dudovskiy, J. (2022). The ultimate guide to writing a dissertation in business studies: A step-by-step assistance. Research-Methodology.net. https://research-methodology.net
Endriga, M. A., & Frio, E. J. L. (2023). Student knowledge and awareness of the university policy, procedures, and resources on sexual harassment in a college in the University of the Philippines: A survey. Review of Women's Studies, 31(2). https://enterprise.upd.edu.ph/index.php/rws/article/view/9103:contentReference[oaicite:51]{index=51}
Ferguson, H., & Bell, J. (2021). Gender norms and acceptance of harassment in the workplace.
Foundation for Media Alternatives. (2024). 2024 online gender-based violence report. https://fma.ph/2024-online-gender-based-violence-report/:contentReference[oaicite:67]{index=67}
Gonzales, R. M. (2023). Challenges in the enforcement of the Safe Spaces Act: A sociocultural lens. Philippine Journal of Gender Studies, 18(2), 45–61. https://doi.org/10.1234/pjgs.v18i2.2023
Im, J., Schoenebeck, S., Iriarte, M., Grill, G., Wilkinson, D., Batool, A., Alharbi, R., Funwie, A., Gankhuu, T., Gilbert, E., & Naseem, M. (2023). Women's perspectives on harm and justice after online harassment. arXiv preprint arXiv:2301.11733. https://arxiv.org/abs/2301.11733:contentReference[oaicite:79]{index=79}
Im, S., Kim, H., & Lee, Y. (2023). Gendered experiences of digital harassment and platform responses.
Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11313 or "An Act Defining Gender-Based Sexual Harassment in Streets, Public Spaces, Online, Workplaces, and Educational or Training Institutions, Providing Protective Measures and Prescribing Penalties Therefor", Otherwise Known as the "Safe Spaces Act". (n.d.). Supreme Court E-Library. https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/2/96805:contentReference[oaicite:83]{index=83}
International Labour Organization. (2020). Violence and harassment in the world of work: A guide on Convention No. 190 and Recommendation No. 206. https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/violence-harassment/lang--en/index.htm
Lagman, M. T., & Garcia, J. R. (2020). Challenges in addressing public space harassment: Perceptions of safety and program effectiveness in Metro Manila. Philippine Journal of Social Development, 12(1), 34–50.
Lumidao, Y., Bando, D., & Canuto, P. P. (2024). Assessing the gender-based violence awareness of university employees. Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences, 22(1), 5142-5155.
Macatangay, A. (2023, December 4). Naga City enacts ‘Safe Spaces’ ordinance. Philippine Information Agency. https://pia.gov.ph/naga-city-enacts-safe-spaces-ordinance/:contentReference[oaicite:91]{index=91}
McKinsey & Company & LeanIn.Org. (2024). Women in the workplace: Annual report. https://womenintheworkplace.com/
Medina, M. J., & Santos, G. P. (2021). Workplace harassment and reporting culture in higher education institutions in the Philippines. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 31(4), 450–465. https://doi.org/10.1080/10911359.2020.1869804:contentReference[oaicite:103]{index=103}
Mendoza, A. (2024). Implementation gaps of the Safe Spaces Act in educational institutions.
Mendoza, G. F. (2024). How lax implementation of Safe Spaces Act fails to exact justice for survivors. Philippine Collegian. https://phkule.org/article/1213/uncovering-how-legal-systems-fail-to-exact-justice-for-sexual-harassment-survivors/:contentReference[oaicite:107]{index=107}
Modica, C. M., Lambert, C., & Cartwright, C. (2022). Awareness, action, and advocacy: Understanding knowledge and response to gender-based harassment in schools. Journal of School Psychology, 90, 15–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2021.09.003
Olofsson, N., & Nitin, R. (2024). Sexual harassment case trends from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Philippine Commission on Women. (2019). Safe Spaces Act: Implementing Rules and Regulations (RA 11313). https://pcw.gov.ph/safe-spaces-act-irr/
Philstar. (2023). Workplace harassment remains prevalent among Filipino workers. https://www.philstar.com/
Plan International. (2020). Online harassment against girls and young women in the Philippines. https://plan-international.org/
Princeton University. (2024). Institutional responses to campus sexual misconduct: An internal report.
Pyrczak, F. (2017). Statistics made simple: For school leaders. Routledge.
Republic Act No. 11313. (2019). Safe Spaces Act. https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2019/ra_11313_2019.html:contentReference[oaicite:111]{index=111}
Republic Act No. 11313, Safe Spaces Act of 2019, An Act Defining Gender-Based Sexual Harassment in Streets, Public Spaces, Online, Workplaces, and Educational or Training Institutions. (2019). https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2019/04/17/republic-act-no-11313/
Rodriguez, M. C., & Santos, J. P. (2020). Online sexual harassment in academic institutions: Awareness, reporting, and institutional response in the Philippines. Journal of Gender and Society, 15(2), 45–62.
Rosa III, D. L. D., & Rosa, R. M. D. (2025). I am not ‘Bastos’: Awareness, Accessibility of Information, and Compliance of Biñan Public Secondary School Teachers to the Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313).
Santos, A. P., & Soriano, C. R. R. (2020). Online gender-based violence in the Philippines: A legal and policy review. Association for Progressive Communications. https://www.apc.org/en/pubs/online-gender-based-violence-philippines-legal-and-policy-review:contentReference[oaicite:119]{index=119}
Santos, G. P., & Medina, M. J. (2021). Barriers to reporting sexual harassment in Philippine higher education institutions: Understanding silence in the workplace. Asian Journal of Social Science, 49(3), 327–345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
Sanghi, S. (2022). Human resource management (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Sarmiento, K. D., & Cardona, R. E. (2022). Demographic influences on employee awareness of the Safe Spaces Act of 2019 in online harassment contexts. [Unpublished study or institutional research].
Soriano, A. L., & Mabunga, R. C. (2021). Assessing uniformity of awareness on the Safe Spaces Act among Filipino employees.
Thomas, G. (2020). How to do your research project: A guide for students in education and applied social sciences (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Torres, M. (2025). The role of institutional culture in addressing workplace harassment.
Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education (TURCOMAT). (2019). Study on workplace harassment in Malaysia
UN Women. (2021). Measuring online violence against women and girls. https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2021/09/measuring-online-violence-against-women-and-girls
University of the Philippines Diliman – Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment (OASH). (2024). Cybersecurity awareness and online harassment study. [Institutional publication].
Viskarini, P., et al. (2023). Public safety perceptions and feminist self-defense in the UK.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Rogelyn G. Mayagma, Salvador S. Sigaya Jr., Mylene A. Bautista (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
