Women in Myanmar launched a creative campaign to fight the problem of sexual harassment on their transit system.
Their campaign is called “whistle for help” and “about 150 volunteers have been distributing whistles and pamphlets to women at eight busy bus stops in Yangon each Tuesday morning in February. The group plans to continue the weekly program for another nine months.”
“The pamphlet instructs women to blow the whistle when they experience sexual harassment on the bus.
“Please go and help the women who blow whistle and let’s stop this unacceptable behaviour,” the pamphlet said. “The campaign and advocacy is not directed against all men but only those who commit these acts.”
The group has also requested support for its campaign from the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission.
Daw Htar Htar, a member of the campaign committee, told The Myanmar Times that women regularly experienced sexual harassment on the city’s bus network but they were usually too afraid or shy to report it.
“Our country is famous for Theravada Buddhism and its related culture and customs but this behaviour brings shame on all of us. We should not accept it anymore and have to stop it from now on,” she said.
“Our body is not their sex object. Why should we keep silent with our head down? It is time to go against it. We can’t work alone but need all helping hands to go against it so that we can create a beautiful, safe and secure environment.”
“Over the past 30 years I myself faced this awful event sometimes and I always thought it was my fault, and kept silent even though I hated it so much. I am now over 40 so … I don’t have to worry as much about this problem but I am worried for my daughter, nieces and younger sisters. What if they meet these kind of detestable men?”
The whistle campaign is so popular, riders regularly ask for extra whistles to pass out to their friends and family and some have requested the organizers expand their campaign to other regions.
The bus drivers are supportive too: “U Tun Aung, a driver one the No 51 line, said sexual harassment had been tolerated on buses for too long and he praised the “whistle for help” organisers for devising an effective, non-violent campaign to stop it.”
Also, on Feb. 14, the Parami bus line and its Adipati subsidiary began offering women-only services during the morning and evening rush hours, when buses are crowded and women more likely to experience sexual harassment. They haven’t said if that would be a permanent measure or not.
I really like the whistle campaign and its community grassroots activism feel. It encourages bystanders to get involved and help out when they hear a whistle so the harassed person does not have to deal with it all on their own. Plus, it’s a simple idea and whistles are cheap and easy to use!
Do you think a similar campaign could work in other cities/countries?
