The top three concerns of Filipinas in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are sexual harassment, unwanted pregnancies, and abuse of domestic workers, said a survey conducted by “Ilustrado,” a Filipino society magazine in Dubai.
A report Gulf News quoted Lalaine Chu-Benitez, “Ilustrado” Editor in Chief as saying “Pinays often keep quiet when something happens to them. They cry in silence. People will treat Filipinas differently only if they react differently to abuse and harassment.”
Chu-Benitez explained that sexual harassment is not limited to verbal abuse.
“It involves intimidation, bullying or coercion of a sexual nature. It includes a range of behaviour from mild transgressions and annoyances to actual sexual abuse or assault,” Gulf news quoted her as saying.
In the report, she explained that sexual abuse does not only mean rape although it is an extreme type of abuse.
She said even teasing, inappropriate touching, molestation, and leering are forms of sexual abuse.
“It all boils down to the same thing: a violation of a woman’s dignity,” Chu-Benitez said in the report.
Warning against being too friendly
Chu-Benitez encouraged Filipinas to observe the differences in the cultures of the Philippines and their host countries.
“In our culture, it’s normal for a woman to make friends easily, smile a lot and refer to people as ‘my friend.’ In this part of the world, that is often misconstrued as a come-on. So many of our women don’t understand the impact of cultural differences and that lack of awareness often lands them in trouble,” Gulf News quoted Chu-Benitez as saying.
Out-of-wedlock pregnancies
Chu-Benitez said there is a rising number of out-of-wedlock pregnancies among Filipinas in the UAE.
In the report, she said Filipinas should understand that “what happens to them is their own responsibility, not anyone else’s.”
“If a woman learns to love and respect herself, she won’t allow a man to abuse her, an employer to mistreat her, or put herself into a situation which may land her in legal trouble. Self-respect and awareness is all that’s needed for change to occur,” Gulf news quoted her as saying.
No age limit
Meanwhile, the report also quoted Jhasmine Cipriano, Chairperson of Gabriella, a non-government group for Filipinas in the UAE, as saying, “Abuse is abuse, and there is no age limit.”
“Women should be able to identify the difference between friendliness and harassment. Ignorance is never an excuse,” Cipriano added.
Sexual harassment
According to “un.org,” sexual harassment means “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.”
The website cited examples of sexual harassment such as:
Pressure for sexual favors;
Unwanted deliberate touching or pinching;
Unwanted sexual looks;
Unwanted sexual teasing or jokes;
Sexual comments about a person’s clothing or body, and
Sexually suggestive signals, among others.
– VVP, GMA News
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
“Safety and health at work every day!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government
(NUG) of Myanmar.
Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
March – Women’s Role in History Month
April – Month of Planet Earth
Weekly Observances:
Last Week of March: Protection and Gender Fair Treatment of the Girl Child Week
Last Week of April – World Immunization Week
Daily Observances:
Mar 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transallantic Slave Trade
Mar 27– Earth Hour
Apr 21 – Civil Service Day
Apr 22 – World Earth Day
Apr 28 – World Day for Safety and Health at Work
