Employees' Awareness of Safe Spaces Act of 2019

Abstract:

Sexual harassment continues to be a serious issue in academic institutions, prompting the enactment of the Safe Spaces Act of 2019 (RA 11313) in the Philippines, which expands the definition of gender-based harassment to include public spaces, online platforms, workplaces, and schools. This study assessed the awareness of university employees in the Negros Island Region regarding the law and its provisions, using a descriptive research design with 207 respondents surveyed via a validated questionnaire. Most respondents were younger, female, single, college-educated, and employed as teaching personnel. Findings revealed a high overall awareness of the law, with online harassment scoring the lowest. No significant differences in awareness were found based on sex, civil status, education, or job classification, though age showed a significant impact on awareness of online harassment. These results indicate that while awareness programs are generally effective, there is a need for targeted efforts to address knowledge gaps in digital harassment and age-specific exposure. The study recommends enhancing digital literacy campaigns, regular harassment training with practical scenarios, and improved campus safety measures. Institutions should maintain consistent awareness content while introducing age-appropriate strategies to ensure inclusivity. Strengthening these initiatives is essential to transforming the Safe Spaces Act from a legal mandate into a lived reality, fostering a culture of safety, respect, and accountability in academic environments.

Keywords: Awareness of Safe Spaces Act of 2019, employees, gender-based harassment