International Anti-Street Harassment Day - March 20, 2011

By JF on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 - 18:10

Street sexual harassment knows no boundaries, rampant in every part of the world. Women like Holly Kearl are raising their voices against it. What will you do stop street sexual harassment?

A few years ago, on New Year’s Eve, a young girl out to party was groped, and sexually harassed by a mob of men at the Gateway of India, Mumbai. It was one of the most gruesome displays of public sexual assault. It sparked off debates and protests across the country, and dedicated websites sprouted up, sharing ways to make our cities safe for women. Despite it all, countless women encounter sexual harassment on the streets in different ways and forms. Of course, all conveniently dismissed as “eve teasing”.

Holly Kearl, a street sexual harassment activist has mooted the idea of an International Anti-Sexual Harassment Day to be held on March 20. “The catcalls, leering, groping, stalking, public masturbation, and anti-woman comments are demeaning, annoying, and sometimes threatening and scary. Too often our stories and experiences with street harassment are silenced, dismissed as trivial annoyances, or portrayed as a compliment “, she says.

March 20 is an opportunity to once again raise our voices against sexual harassment on the streets, and make our cities safe for all.  As Holly puts it, “break the silence, challenge the social acceptability, brainstorm community responses, and demand its end.”

For more details on International Anti Sexual Harassment Day log on to http://stopstreetharassment.com