The University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) Gender and Development Program (GDP) and the Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment (OASH) highlighted the importance of safe and inclusive spaces during a public forum for Women’s Month.
The GDP and OASH invited Prof. Moniq Muyargas, faculty member of the Psychology Cluster, Division of Social Sciences, as the resource person for its public forum titled “Mula sa Loob, Hanggang sa Labas: Empowering Communities Through Safe and Inclusive Spaces" held at the CFOS AV Hall, UPV Miagao campus, on March 21, 2025.
Prof. Muyargas talked about how the safety of marginalized individuals – particularly women and children, queer people, indigenous people, and persons with disability – is constantly compromised.
She talked about defining and creating safe spaces, which goes beyond physical spaces. She also discussed the primer of the Safe Spaces Act or Republic Act (RA) 11313, which covers all forms of gender-based sexual harassment committed in public spaces, educational or training institutions, workplaces, and online spaces.
The attendees of the public forum included UPV personnel and students, West Visayas State University students, and representatives from the Local Government Unit of Miagao.
The event is one of the activities organized by the GDP for this year’s Women’s Month celebration.
