Over the past two weeks, a newly released study in Australia found that 87% of women have been street harassed, the Peruvian Congress passed a new law against street harassment, Chinese activists were detained for planning a protest about sexual harassment on their transit system (sign the petition!), and an Afghan woman held an 8 minute protest march in Kabul (and is now in hiding after facing death threats). Street harassment is a serious global issue.
From April 12 – 18, we are organizing the fifth annual International Anti-Street Harassment Week and already more than 110 groups in 30 countries have pledged to participate. The purpose of the week is to allow us to join together in solidarity and amplify each other’s voices and work so that the world listens.
Together we can let people affected by street harassment know it’s not their fault and they’re not alone. We can inform communities that this is a problem that we all need to care about and address. And we can demand changes. Thank you for being part of it.
1. Tell Us What You’re Doing!
We want to know what you’re doing! Please either completethis form or e-mail Britnae with details, BPurdy@stopstreetharassment.org. This is important. It will help us direct individuals to the relevant event/s in their area. It will also help us gain more media attention for the week/issue overall if we can share specific interesting events that will be occurring. Thank you in advance for your help.
2. Ideas for Action
Do you still need ideas for what you can do? Here are several. We especially hope to see offline discussions involving diverse community members of all genders and backgrounds. It will take EVERYONE to truly create safer communities.But at minimum, any individual can participate through simple acts like telling their street harassment story, writing chalk messages, and sharing information online.
3. Tools
We have a large selection of shareable images and downloadable fliers on our website. Check them out and use them! They are available in a number of languages…but we’d love to have even more. Please email Britnae, BPurdy@stopstreetharassment.org if you are willing to translate a few sentences.
4. Write a Blog Post
If you’d like to write a blog post for Stop Street Harassment (or have an entry cross-posted from your blog) that would be great! It can be for the week itself, or you can advertise what you’ll be doing for the week and why (as Hollaback! Amsterdam just did). Just reach out to Britnae, BPurdy@stopstreetharassment.org with a short pitch about what the blog would cover and the preferred date or time range you’d like it published.
5. Tweet Chats
We are finalizing the daily tweet chats (info to come). If you are planning to host one but haven’t been in touch yet, please reach out so we can add it to the official list. And in general, please plan to use #EndSH for the chats as well as for any relevant street harassment tweets throughout the week.
6. Global Night of Action, April 17
As part of International Anti-Street Harassment Week, Stop Telling Women to Smile (STWTS) is organizing an international wheat pasting night on April 17th, 2015. Individuals and organizations around the world can download and print STWTS posters via stoptellingwomentosmile.com soon. The goal is that on April 18th, walls across the world will show the faces and words of women protesting street harassment.
Feel free to reach out anytime with questions, suggestions, or information!
Thank You,
Stop Street Harassment Board & Volunteers
Questions? Contact Holly: hkearl@stopstreetharassment.org
