‘Bawal ang Bastos sa Konsulado,’

Promoting Safe Spaces in Consulate Services in Germany

FRANKFURT, 26 November 2021 – With the aim of contributing to an environment of equality, security and safety in Philippine posts abroad, Consul Rogelio E. Villanueva, Jr. and Vice Consul Fatima Mueller of the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt led the discussion on Republic Act 11313 or Safe Spaces Act of 2019, entitled “Bawal Bastos sa Konsulado” on 19 November 2021 at the Consulate. 

The discussion stressed the importance of personal accountability in making the Filipino posts a safe space. Consul Rogelio Villanueva highlighted the importance of widening of the scope of what constitutes gender-based sexual harassment, where it can take place, including in public spaces, and the degrees of penalties on various sexual harassment acts as defined in the law. Meanwhile, Vice Consul Fatima Mueller tackled cyberbullying and the inclusion of online spaces as part of the ‘public space.’

The Consulate’s personnel expressed its commitment towards making the Consulate and all areas of consular activity free from gender-based sexual harassment and vowed to exert greater efforts to be gender sensitive in dealing with consular clients and in their interaction among themselves. END

For more information, visit https://frankfurtpcg.de/ or https://www.facebook.com/PHinFrankfurt/.