uplbgendercenter

GC-OASH gives week-long talks to freshmen blocs

Gender Center- Office Against Sexual Harassment (OASH) gives talks among freshmen blocs on Sexual Harassment.

As part of their Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) efforts, OASH conducted week-long scheduled talks for the freshmen in UPLB. People from the said office, one of which is Ms. Emilia Lastica, prepared talks for freshmen blocs in different schedules from September 2- 6, 2013.

The talk tackled gender sensitivity and sexual harassment, wherein cases and statistics of sexual harassment in the campus were shared with the students. “In identifying the occurrence of a sexual harassment, you need to remember two words: unwelcome and sexual”. Ms. Lastica shared that sexual harassment is not only physical, but could be verbal too. Any unwelcome sexual advancement, whether said in a conversation, through a text message or body language may be considered sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is a violation against an individual, and the university gives protection to its faculty, staff and students against it through OASH.

In cases of sexual harassment, the victim could report an incident with OASH. Then, he/she will choose if he/she only wants an apology, or if he/she wants the center to give a more serious penalty like suspension or dismissal. In any of the cases, the center will require the aggressor to attend counselling.

Statistics say that in the reported cases, most are women, but there are men too. And there are women and men aggressors to. It was also shared that most of the victims were freshmen, thus, the talks were given to them. This only goes to show that everyone could be a victim, or an aggressor.

The Gender Center received an increasing amount of reports on sexual harassment each year. It could be that there really is an increase in the incidence, but it is also possible that it is because more and more people are learning about OASH and the Gender Center. At the end of her talk, Ms. Lastica encouraged everyone to share what they have learned with everybody to spread the words amongst more people.

Have you been sexually harassed, or do you know someone who has? Report it through the Gender Center. They could be reached through their facebook group, or a visit their office at the International House Complex, near DL Umali in the campus.

Written by: Grace Subang