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Duterte Signs Law Punishing Catcalling, Sexual Harassment

Associated Press

   MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Philippine president has signed a bill into
   law penalizing a range of acts of sexual harassment including
   catcalling, wolf-whistling and persistent telling of sexual jokes,
   which pro-women's groups have accused him of committing.

   Philippine officials released on Monday a copy of Republic Act 11313,
   known as the ``Safe Spaces Act,'' which Duterte signed in April. The
   reason for the delay in its public release was not immediately clear.
   The bill's main author has called the new law a ``massive victory''
   against a growing culture of rude sexist actions.

   The law defines a range of offensive acts, including catcalling,
   wolf-whistling, intrusive gazing, cursing, misogynistic acts, sexist
   slurs and persistent telling of sexual jokes in public or online.
   Punishments include fines and imprisonment depending on the gravity of
   the offense.

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