Hontiveros files 'Tres Marias' bills to protect women from violence

MANILA, Philippines -- Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday filed the Tres Marias bills -- three pieces of proposed legislation to fight against sexual and gender-based discrimination.

 

In a press conference, Hontiveros said the 'Tres Marias' include the Anti-Rape bill, Anti-Sexual Harassment bill, and Gender-Based Electronic Violence bill.

 

The Anti-Rape bill seeks to amend and modernize the current law on rape, including raising the age of consent to 18 from 12, emphasize the absence of consent as an essential element in citing the crime as rape.

 

The Anti-Sexual Harassment bill seeks to amend current anti-sexual harassment legislation to cover harassment between peers and between subordinates and their superiors.

 

 

The Gender-based Electronic Violence bill meanwhile lays out legal options for women who are victims outside of the context of domestic or social violence.

 

However, she said that there are important gaps in the laws she mentioned.

 

"May vacuum of legal remedies available when the nature of the violence tends to disparage the person who'd and identity of the victims on account of his or her gender," Hontiveros said, adding that there is still discrimination.