28/03/2026
๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐๐
A student-led movement advocating for safer educational spaces took spotlight at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) as the Women Rising campaign brought together young women, advocates, and institutions to confront the persistent issue of sexual harassment in schools.
Organized in collaboration with Young Feminists Collective Mindanao (YFCM), Talikala, Inc., Sandiwang Perlas Pilipinas, and the USeP Gender and Development (GAD) Office, the initiative forms part of a broader effort to address what organizers describe as a โculture of silenceโ surrounding abuse and misconduct in academic spaces.
According to Obrero Student Council President Siddalee Mozo, the campaign was rooted in both organizational advocacy and lived realities within the student community.
โYoungFem reached out to us because this initiative has been a core part of their organizationโs plan of action. When they approached me, I remembered a conversation I had with Sir Alther regarding student harassment. We had seen numerous statements from students who were harassed both inside the university and in the surrounding Obrero area,โ Mozo said.
She added that grievances raised through institutional channels further underscored the urgency of the issue.
โSince these circumstances persist, I accepted the invitation. I want the university to strengthen its mechanisms and provide a proper avenue for women to lobby their concerns and ensure these problems are truly resolved,โ she said.
The campaign, which culminated in a Womenโs Month celebration and forum, highlighted the growing concern over cases of sexual harassment affecting students, particularly women, in Davao City and across the country.
Speakers emphasized that such incidents often go unreported due to fear, stigma, and weak institutional mechanisms, creating barriers to education and negatively impacting studentsโ mental health and personal development.
Mozo emphasized that one of the campaignโs immediate impacts was educating students on recognizing harassment and understanding their rights.
โWomen Rising educated participants on existing laws and clarified which specific actions are considered harassment. This is crucial because many students, due to a lack of information, might overlook certain incidents or feel unsure about how to confront them,โ she explained.
Despite challenges in attendance due to academic schedules and overlapping events, the student council is already working on expanding the campaignโs reach.
University officials and partner organizations underscored the importance of collaboration in addressing systemic gaps. For Mozo, partnerships played a crucial role in shaping the campaignโs direction.
โThe collaboration gave the campaign a much clearer direction and vision. Following the culmination, we are planning another meeting to develop a sustainability plan, specifically creating a Women Support Group for the initiative,โ she said.
Mozo also extended her gratitude to the team behind the initiative.
โI want to take this opportunity to thank my Women Rising Team, headed by Adrian Gabriel Chato, one of my associate presidents, along with our Multimedia Officer, Jeralden Malintad, and Ma. Nehlia Navales, our legislative focal. They were at the forefront of making this campaign possible through genuine student service,โ she said.
โIt is because of their dedicationโand, most importantly, for the sake of the students and women facing these challengesโthat we are so committed to making this initiative sustainable and effective.โ
As the Women Rising movement gains traction, its proponents stress that addressing sexual harassment in schools requires sustained action, institutional reform, and collective responsibility from both students and administrators.
Article by Ana Mercy Joy Olmedo
Photos from USeP Obrero Student Council
Layout by Denise Astilla
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