Demonstrators in Damanhour (Photo: Ahram Arabic News website)

Once again, I turn to Egypt for inspiration.

Yesterday, about 25 members of the new “Catch a Harasser” movement and members of the Egyptian Democratic Institute in Baharia held a silent protest in the northern Delta city of Damanhour (near Alexandria) to speak out against street harassment, which increases during holidays.

Via Ahram Online:

“Contributors, women and men, carried signs declaring slogans such as ‘no to harassment’ and ‘catch a harasser for a harassment-free Eid.’

During the event, which lasted about an hour, participants also distributed a statement to drivers and passers-by, ‘Do as you please; you reap what you sow.’

The statement addressed those who sexually harass women saying, ‘I’m your sister, your mother, your wife, your daughter. Do you stand for my humiliation and the loss of my dignity?’

‘If you dislike my clothes or my walk, is that an excuse to molest me? If that was so, why do you still harass me when I’m veiled or fully veiled? All the aforementioned are just justifications you use to explain your shameful actions. I would like to walk freely and safely. I want your respect. No to harassment. No excuse for harassment. Harassment is a disease. You reap what you sow.’”

I love it!

Meanwhile, the women’s complaints office at the National Council for Women set up the hotline number 08-008-883-888 that people can call if they are harassed during Eid al-Adha.

Via the Egypt Independent:

“In a statement, the council said the operations room of the Egyptian Company for Metro Management & Operation would also collect harassment complaints at 16048 and 25-747-295, as will Fouada Watch, an initiative launched by youth to counter harassment, at 01-150-118-822.”

I’m glad these initiatives are underway and I hope they can help more people enjoy a harassment-free Eid.