Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Ken Livingstone, London mayoral candidate, takes on street harassment

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This has been a big month for the London Anti Street Harassment (LASH) Campaign! In early September, they met with 2012 London Mayoral candidate Oona King and after the meeting, King agreed to make street harassment one of her campaign platforms!

This week LASH sent a letter to London mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone, and now he has agreed to also add street harassment to his campaign agenda! He wrote,

“I am concerned about street harassment of women and believe there is far more we need to do to tackle this problem.

I believe we should consider tougher deterrents and punishments to tackle this crime. We also need to provide far greater support for the victims of street harassment and other crimes.

This is an issue that needs to be taken more seriously, not just by the police but our schools, parents and the wider community.

It is essential that we send a clear message that street harassment of women is wrong and will not be tolerated.”

What amazing work by LASH Campaign founder Vicky Simister!! She’s a great role model for activists everywhere who want their political leaders to take this issue seriously.

This month, Vicky has also generated lots of great discussions about street harassment via appearances on the Mumsnet radio show, BBC radio 5, BBC London radio 94.5, and BBC Woman’s Hour. Keep it up!!

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Idaho upskirter is jailed

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In Idaho, video voyeurism is a felony and that’s why Mario Esquivel-Jimenez is in jail. Two different women caught him trying to take upskirt video footage of them at a Wal*Mart and they contacted the store manager. Then the Boise Police arrested him.

Via KTVB:

“It’s a felony,” said Lieutenant Steve Myers with Boise Police. “It’s a fairly new law on the books that was created to meet the needs of an ever-changing technology in society. So, we do use it quite a bit. It’s just one of those things that happen as times change. People take advantage of cell phones, to capture video that they should not be.”

Emphasis there was mine. It’s a good thing, if this is happening “quite a bit,” that it is illegal.

Mario Esquivel-Jimenez

Remember, if you are the target or see someone else being the target of public harassment (and this goes for any type, not just gender-based), you can report it. Yes, there’s a chance your report won’t be taken seriously, but at least you’ve tried. And then, in a case like this, what if it is taken seriously? Because of you, hopefully the perpetrator will be deterred from harming anyone else.

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Weekly Round Up: September 26, 2010

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Story Submissions Recap:

I accept street harassment submissions from anywhere in the world. Share your story!

In the News, On the Blogs:

Events:

Announcements:

12 Tweets from the Week:

  • dyanti Dear members of so called progressive community,careful when u harass a girl in the street. U might pick a wrong one,like me 🙂
  • jennifercwang Lovely. Street harassed by two obnoxious brobros last night. inappropriate! Hate this mantype. #iHollaback #streetharassment
  • LEVYandMarie Just another a-hole harassing me on my block #streetharassment on Twitpic twitpic.com/2rliv3 (cc @MarianneDiNaps)
  • CircaJoyLynn Wondering why I chose this bright red dress today. I really don’t want attention from strangers… #streetharassment
  • starlipswriters @rightsandwrongs The worst part of #streetharassment might be that harassers expect our silence. So speaking up & out is the thing to do.
  • TheUndomestic Yelled a nice “fuck you” to livery cab driver who slowed down to make kissing noises at me. #streetharassment
  • El_Amster Am surprised at lack of street harassment in Malaysia. Been here for 2 wks & not so much as a sidewards glance. I feel so free
  • KristyKakes Can’t I just go for a peaceful run without getting honked at, whistled at, or a catcall?
  • smartbunny When I saw a guy catcall a jogger, I yelled @ him, “Ooh a GIRL! I better yell something stupid 2 show what a MAN I am!”
  • SpreeWilson Street harassment is out of control here in NYC according to my female friends…An aquaintance even did a one woman play addressing it
  • DesiSanchez @iHollaback Random stranger feels it’s “sad” he can’t talk 2 pretty women in the street. Told him I feel it’s sad he feels the need to 🙂
  • ton_o_fun I just witnessed some creepy dude cuss out this girl walking down the st. bc she didn’t respond 2 his catcall. I don’t get men
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Cross-border trade impeded by harassment

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Image from IPS News

In a UNIFEM study of 700 informal traders in Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and border posts to South Africa, women report that harassment and sexual exploitation by border officials seeking bribes constitute their biggest obstacles.

And it’s not just a few women who are impacted.  In Zimbabwe, for example, about 70 percent of women are involved in cross-border trade as part of their livelihood.

Via IPS News:

“The UNIFEM study describes the effects of the traders’ operating environment on their health. A reliance on public transportation, poor maintenance, high costs and incidences of theft and sexual harassment mean that women traders face serious threats.

The difficulty of obtaining loans and start-up capital for small businesses forces many women traders to borrow money from “loan sharks” to pay for transport and purchase goods.

Corrupt border officials who take advantage of traders’ sometimes limited level of understanding of the customs process may also confiscate some their goods illegally.

Many are forced to engage in transactional sex along trade corridors to obtain accommodation, transport or get through borders.

Upon returning home, female traders – who may be gone for weeks at a time – may be accused of prostitution and stigmatised.

[Ottilia Chikosha, from the Harare-based Regional Export Promotion Women’s Trust,] said the major challenge is how to help women informal traders to enter the formal economy.”

The good news is that earlier this month, UNIFEM held a workshop with the South African government to address the barriers facing women economically and how to make public spaces safer for them. I hope that good strategies and ideas came out of it.

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Car harassers can go to jail in Missouri!

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In Independence, Missouri, there’s a new ordinance making it illegal for people in cars to harass pedestrians and cyclists!

Hooray! This is the type of harassment I personally experience the most and I find it’s really dis-empowering because the idiot is able to get away before I can even respond.

While this blog focuses on women harassed by men because of their gender, I know there are plenty of men who also deal with drive-by harassment. They may be targeted for being or being perceived to be gay, for having a disability, for their race, etc. So this law sounds like a win for everyone who wants to be able to walk or cycle down the street in peace!

Via Fox News:

“If you are caught in Independence yelling at or harassing someone from your vehicle, you could be fined up to $500 or sent to jail, depending on the severity of the violation.

Independence City Manager Robert Heacock would like to see stiffer penalties.

‘I think it’s something we need to look at, the severity of what’s involved in harassing, possibly injuring someone, I think, warrants some further discussion as to the proper fine level,’ Heacock said.”

I wonder if any other cities will follow suit?

o(Thanks Violet from HollaBack NYC for the tip!)

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