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MANILA, Philippines—Giving sanctions against people making a rape joke “rather than dismissing it as a display of humor” will send a “strong message” in respecting everyone’s rights and dignity, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said Friday.
The CHR issued the statement as it lauded television giant ABS-CBN for “not condoning inappropriate behavior” after the network sanctioned a contestant in one of its reality programs for making rape jokes.
ABS-CBN’s reality show “Pinoy Big Brother Otso” force-evicted its contestant Banjo Dangalan after he joked that he wanted to rape one of his fellow male housemates.
READ: PBB housemate kicked out of show after making rape jokes
The show is the Philippine franchise of the successful global reality show “Big Brother.”
“We believe that appropriating a sanction for the offense made, rather than dismissing it as a display of humor, sends a strong message on the need to respect everyone’s rights and dignity, especially women,” CHR Spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said in a statement.
“We hope that this episode on national television serves as a teachable moment for all Filipinos,” she added.
The CHR official also stressed that media plays a vital role in “shaping mindsets on critical issues.”
“As such, they are seen as secondary duty bearers charged with the duty to equally ensure that their conduct contributes to the protection and promotion of rights,” De Guia said. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)