IN AN effort to raise awareness on creating safe spaces amid online classes, the Sanggunian Commission on Anti-Sexual Misconduct and Violence (CASMV) launched the Securing Safe Spaces: CASMV Webinar Series. The four-episode series featured lawyers, psychologists, and University personnel who discussed topics related to sexual violence.

Along with discussing the various forms of sexual violence, Securing Safe Spaces was also created to inform Loyola Schools (LS) students about the Ateneo’s existing regulations for sexual misconduct case filing. 

The first episode was released on September 19 and included Atty. Amparita Sta. Maria and Atty. Clara Padilla as speakers. Sta. Maria talked about the legal definitions of sexual violence and what constitutes sexual harassment under the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995, while Padilla focused on the penalties that may be imposed by the Safe Spaces Act for acts of sexual violence.

CASMV Co-Commissioner Cate Roque also stated that she hopes the episode will encourage both survivors and non-survivors to start the “hard conversations” that will bring Ateneo closer to being a safe space.

“By continuing the series, we hope to take away the stigma that is associated with experiencing sexual harassment and sexual assault, to take a closer look at the culture that has normalized these in the first place, and of course, to empower our survivors,” she said. 

Aside from this, the second episode was released on September 26, which featured LS Gender Hub Case Response Coordinator Angelique Villasanta and Ateneo Bulatao Center Psychologist Avegale Acosta.

While Villasanta discussed the physical, mental, and physiological effects of sexual violence on survivors, Acosta talked about how Psychological First Aid sessions can support survivors. Recordings of the episodes can be found on CASMV’s official Facebook page.