What does street harassment look like in Pakistan? Does wearing a burqa reduce street harassment?
Find out the answers in the two short films created by Naveen Naqvi, Executive Director of Gawaahi. In the text of the films “Stop Staring!” and “Stop Street Harassment,” she writes:
“Street Harassment is a global phenomenon that is largely overlooked, and even considered acceptable despite there being laws against it in many places including Pakistan. Street harassment includes making sexually explicit comments, ogling, whistling, following and groping.
In the making of these videos, we found that many Pakistani women, especially from the lower-middle classes began wearing burqas because they found the additional garment enabling in many ways. However, they find that the problem of street harassment has worsened, and even in burqas, they are harassed as they wait for buses, rickshas, taxis, or walk down the street. We found that this intimidation was experienced by women across class, age, religion and ethnicity.”
View the films (you can choose the “closed captions” option to read English subtitles) and stay tuned for an interview with Naqvi about her work to make public places safer for women in Pakistan!
