THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has expressed grave concern that t-shirts portraying women in compromising sexual positions were being openly sold online.
A report by the Women’s Legal and Human Rights Bureau, a feminist non-government organization, alerted the CHR that a company
called KNPP is openly selling “hypersexualized” t-shirts on Facebook, Lazada and Shopee.
The CHR said the t-shirts depicting women in obscene sexual positions, “normalize the sexual objectification of women, and are clearly sexist and misogynistic.”
The posts and engagements on Facebook and other shopping outlets also revealed that the target market of the shirts were men.
The CHR said there were already numerous reports about obscenity online, including the Facebook but
to no avail.
“The open posting, display and sale of such shirts and other products of KNPP are blatant disregard of laws protecting women from
discrimination, violence, and all forms of sexual harassment,” the commission said.
“Despite provisions of the Magna Carta of Women on non-derogatory portrayal of women and the provisions of the Safe Spaces Act
penalizing sexism and misogyny, businesses like KNPP are still able to openly operate and earn from the sexual objectification of women. It is thus with urgency that CHR calls on Facebook, Lazada, and Shopee to immediately take down posts and accounts of KNPP,” the CHR added.
The commission urged businesses and social media platforms to be its partners in protecting women’s human rights and not allow their platforms to be sites of violence and sexual harassment.
“We also call on the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center to trace and identify the account holders, and for the
Department of Trade and Industry to investigate the registration of these businesses and the possible violations they may have committed,” it said.
“Lastly, as Gender Ombud, we call on the public to continue to be vigilant and be the Commission’s partners in calling out and
holding into account sexist, misogynistic remarks, and acts. Let work together to make all spaces safe and empowering,” it noted.