This Women’s Month, I want to write something of significance and close to my heart. I want to advocate women’s safety. In the Philippines alone, 1 in 4 women will experience some form of sexual assault in her lifetime. And to be honest, I don’t think this number is accurate because it’s underreported. A lot of women choose to stay silent because of victim shaming, fear of embarrassment, among others. As a law student myself, I have read cases that are truly gut-wrenching which is why I want to advocate women’s safety and maybe someday after passing the bar, become of more significance in my cause.
I came across “We Are Bella” on Instagram. Got curious and went to check out their website and other photos. Personal alarms are not yet so popular in the Philippines. Which is why I am very excited to share with you this information and why I think you should have one too!
- Additional safety measure. This is not just for women. The LGBT community and even the men may need this too! Especially in the Philippines where it’s pretty common to get mugged on the streets, being able to carry this anywhere is an additional safety precaution. This is more effective than shouting for help. With Bella’s blaring 130DB siren feature, you will surely get the attention of passers by.
- Deter possible attack. Aside from the additional peace of mind you get when carrying a Bella around, you can also deter possible attacks. You can take advantage of its powerful strobe light and 60 minutes continuous alarm to distract the perpetrator. The strobe light can also serve as a guide for people to know your exact location, especially in dark areas like parking lots.
- Build a safer community. While this may be a stretch and the effect may not be instantaneous, by having a personal alarm, we can build a safer space not only for women but for the whole community in general. If more and more people carry personal alarm with them all the time, perpetrators will be discouraged and would think twice before making a move. Let’s make life hard for them and maybe someday we may be able to trim down the numbers and live in a safer community.
While I cannot cover everything I feel about women’s safety, sexual assault, etc. all in one post, I hope that I was able to talk at least the basics about why having a personal alarm with you is helpful. I personally recommend We Are Bella because they are not just after the business of selling personal alarms, they have an advocacy of building a safer future for women.
How about you? Do you have a personal alarm? Would you consider getting one? Let me know in the comments!
We Are Bella
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearebellaph/
Website: https://wearebella.ph
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