Championing safe spaces for women

SM Supermalls, through its corporate social responsibility arm, SM Cares, launched this year’s Women’s Month celebration with a series of events championing a safe, inclusive and enabling environment for women, in line with its commitment to women’s empowerment and gender equality.Nearly 17,000 SM Supermalls front-liners, employees and partners gathered at the SM North Edsa Sky Dome and online on March 1 for a nationwide orientation on the Safe Spaces Act (Bawal Bastos Law) or Republic Act No. 11313. The law penalizes gender-based sexual harassment committed in public spaces, educational or training institutions, workplaces and online.

Organized by SM Cares in partnership with the Philippine Commission on Women and the Department of Labor and Employment, the forum is part of SM’s ongoing nationwide campaign to promote a safe, inclusive and empowering environment for women, and builds on the success of the first Safe Spaces Act orientation in October 2023, which saw the participation of 7,614 attendees from SM malls across the country.

SM Prime Holdings AVP and program director Jessica Sy reaffirmed SM’s commitment to preventing harassment and gender bias against women, especially within its premises.

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Sy also reflected on the legacy of her grandfather Henry Sy Sr. which underscores the importance of inclusivity and respect in everything SM does. “Remembering this provides a richer context when we say ‘Bawal bastos sa SM.’”