BY CZARINA NICOLE ONG KI
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THE Lucban Municipal Police Station came under fire over the weekend for a Facebook post that insinuated rape victims are at fault for wearing provocative clothing.
The post started well enough, with the police station saying that women deserve to be treated with love and people should not abuse their kindness.
However, people became enraged when they read the next paragraph: “Kayo naman mga gherlsz, wag kayo magsusuot ng pagkaikliikling damit at pag naman nabastos ay magsusumbong din sa amin. Isipin nyo rin!”
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) posted on Twitter that acts of abuse and harassment are the fault of the perpetrators, and it was wrong for Lucban Municipal Police Station to suggest that women are at fault because of what they wear.
“Ang mga pambabastos sa kababaihan ay nangyayari dahil sa asal at ginawa ng taong bastos, hindi dahil sa kasuotan ng biktima. Mali na isisi sa biktima o sa kasuotan nito ang anumang pambabastos,” the post read.
With the statement made by the Lucban Municipal Police Station, the CHR said that it removes the responsibility from the perpetrators who are really at fault for their abusive behavior.
Victim-blaming only promotes rape culture, the CHR added. “It sadly normalizes gender-based violence and puts a strain on the women who have been victimized by it.”
“Bahagi ng kalayaan sa self-expression ang pagpili ng kasuotan. Kailanman hindi nababawasan ang dignidad at karapatan ng mga babae nang dahil sa kanilang damit. Ang mga taong bastos ang dapat sabihan na mag-regulate o mag-ayos ng kanilang pag-iisip at asal,” the Commission tweeted.
The CHR has encouraged the policemen of the Lucban Municipal Police Station to undergo gender sensitivity training in order to better protect women in their area.
