MANILA, Philippines — A group that monitors sexual harassment cases in schools has called on the Department of Education to establish concrete anti-retaliation policies to protect victims when they file complaints against school authorities, including their teachers accused of sexual misconduct. New demands were drawn up during the gathering, which had “galvanized” student leaders from different schools to take action on the continued rise in sexual harassment cases in their own campuses, Enough is Enough (EIE) said in a statement. Based on its monitoring, EIE has recorded at least 61 incidents of campus sexual misconduct that have taken place. But “multiple cases … have either been dropped or remain unresolved” while several accused remain unpunished, the group said. Last year, EIE reiterated its call for DepEd to ensure that it takes action on all those accused of sexual harassment in schools, noting that fear of reprisal or humiliation has prevented several victims from speaking out.

Source: Philippine Star February 16, 2024 17:38 UTC