What can we do to eliminate harassment and create public spaces where we all feel safe?
Street harassment is still a global issue. The recent murder of Sarah Everard serves as a stark reminder of this to women all over the world.
On the initiative of the Share-Net Netherlands “Community of Practice on Gender Based Violence (GBV)”, Fairspace participated in a virtual panel discussion with HarassMap and Plan International Belgium.
We unpacked the concept of street harassment, assessed the effectiveness of criminalisation and discussed best practices based on our collective experiences in Belgium, Egypt and the Netherlands.
The outcome of our discussion is a joint policy brief, which focuses on prevention and the importance of holistic interventions.
Here are our top 3 takeaways:
1. Prevention through legislation
Tackle the challenges of effective implementation by setting clear and inclusive definitions of harassment and removing the barriers to reporting (guaranteeing privacy and safety).
2. Prevention through education
Complement legislation with behavioural and norm change that comes through comprehensive sexuality education, digital education and bystander intervention, which all work to raise awareness, de-normalize harmful behaviours and encourage open communication about healthy interactions and attitudes.
3. Prevention through community-driven solutions
Tailor interventions to specific locations and co-create solutions with those most impacted by street harassment in those area
Download the full policy brief.
Are you working on street harassment in your country or city? We would love to hear from you. Reach out to us on our social channels at the top of this page, at info@fairspace.co, or share your ideas with the Share-Net Netherlands Community of Practice on GBV here.
