A few weeks ago, I blogged about how Sri Lanka Unites in Colombo planned to to undertake an initiative called S.H.O.W You Care (S.H.O.W. = Stop Harassment of Women) to address sexual harassment on public transportation. Well, the campaign happened and this was sent by the organizers of the event:
“Hundreds of young men were given an informative training by Sri Lanka Unites and were split into teams of 3 with a mentor appointed to each team…
Starting Monday, June 25th, hundreds of young men boarded buses according to a previously formulated strategic plan. During the course of the campaign which lasted one week, over one thousand buses were covered, reaching over thirty thousand commuters in Colombo.
The young men, apologized to women in the buses for any harassment they have encountered in the past, providing them with information on legal recourse available to them if they experience such treatment in the future. Next they charged the men to take the responsibility to safeguard this right and the negative reflection on them, if they fail.
The response from the commuters on buses was astounding. Passengers on the buses, both male and female, were very responsive to the campaign. Many encouraged the efforts of the young men, asked for more information about the campaign and Sri Lanka Unites. The passengers were eager to engage in conversations regarding the issue of harassment on public transportation and were heartened by the efforts of the young men to attempt to resolve this problem in the city of Colombo.”
Total Number of Buses: 1225
Routes Covered: 49
Estimated Number of Commuters Reached: 36750
Well done!! It’s so important to engage men as allies and change-makers. This is not a “women’s” issue. It impacts all of us and we all have a responsibility to help end it.
beckie says
What a great event.