PCW Statement Concerning Pick-up Artists Academy

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) strongly denounces the acts of an online group that seems to be a breeding ground for male sexual harassers and predators.

We received a complaint regarding a business entity named Pick-up Artists Academy (PUA), which allegedly provides services to “boost men’s confidence” by conducting lecture-seminars and selling books that teach men the strategies to seduce and to pick-up women in various places.

The complaint noted that PUA Academy created a Facebook group where members interact with one another, often sharing “lay reports” which detail how they were able to have sexual intercourse with women using the strategies they learned from PUA Academy. Alarmingly, some members even share incriminating photos of the women they had sexual intercourse with, in order to gain validation from other members of the group.

It is appalling that this group actually makes money from promoting misogyny, objectification of women, and victim-blaming and shaming. Worst, their practices could even lead men and boys to commit criminal offenses punishable under Philippine laws.

We have formally coordinated with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the case and initiate necessary proceedings relative to the case. Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women designated the CHR as the country’s Gender and Development Ombud to ensure the promotion and protection of women’s human rights.

In light of the foregoing, we encourage the victims of PUA to come out and report cases of harassment to our law enforcement agencies. Your full cooperation is necessary in order to put an end to the practices of the group and avoid the victimization of more women and girls.

On a positive note, we thank the groups and individuals who openly expressed their concern and publicly called out the practice of the said group. It only goes to prove that Filipinos – women and men alike, are opposed to toxic masculinity that normalizes rape culture and violence against women and girls. Public vigilance has always been important in the protection and promotion of women’s human rights.

We also call on our male advocates to continue talking with fellow men and boys that violence against women and girls is unacceptable. Keep in mind that masculinity is not and will never be measured by the number of women one has slept with, violated, hurt, or harassed. The harmful practice of conditioning men and boys to victimize women likewise victimizes these men and boys into unwittingly committing crimes.

The PCW will monitor the progress of this case with the CHR and the NBI.