Topic: Workplace Sexual Harassment
Country: Philippines
Delegate Name: Jimmy Braun
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Philippines position papers GLIMUN 2018 committees
Section 3 of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 defines workplace sexual harassment as “when a person demands, requests, or requires sexual favors from another person in exchange for another thing such as hiring for employment, re-employment, or continued employment, granting favorable compensation, terms of conditions, promotions, or privileges.” This issue is not a new one. Over the past 40 years, the United Nations and the Philippines has strove to shed light on and eliminate this issue. This form of harassment is difficult to measure, and extends to many different forms including verbal or written, physical, nonverbal or visual. Sexual harassment can affect many aspects of the workplace, oftentimes creating a hostile work environment, and effecting promotions or pay . Because sexual harassment may result in the trade of promotions or pay, these can be used as leverage to cover up harassment.
In April of 2018, Rodrigo addressed the Philippines efforts to preventing violence against women, saying “The Philippines seeks prosperity for women above all. We will continue to be a pinnacle for the prosperity of women in the workplace.” The Philippines has been a long time pioneer for women's rights legislation, with bills such as the Republic Act 7877 and the Anti-Violence Against Women Act of 2004, both becoming benchmarks for their time. In 2004, the Philippines Project Offices was opened as a part of the CEDAW Southeast Asia Program, a program founded and funded by the Government of Canada to strengthen government programs within the Philippines, such as putting women in legislative positions and promoting gender equality through the mainstream. The Magna Carta of Women was adopted by the Philippines in 2009, a part of the CEDAW program, and passed as law as The Republic Act 9710, providing a comprehensive law to bolster support for women's rights in the 21st century.
According to a study done by U.N. Women, it was found that in the Philippines alone, 30 to 40 percent of women have faced sexual harassment in the workplace. The Philippines stands with the United States, Canada, and the E.U. in their efforts to prevent workplace Sexual Harassment. The burden of sexual harassment should fall on the shoulders of the business owners, promoting the development of Human Resources departments. On a bigger scale, the UN women should continue to use its power to push politicians who aim to address this issue, as they have done in middle eastern countries such as Pakistan, using programs similar to CEDAW. With more attention than ever before, the weight of this issue sits on the shoulders of U.N. Women, and every country present.
