172 arrested on sexual harassment charges

[DJKeefy]

172 arrested on sexual harassment charges; still not enough, say activists.

In the first two days of the Eid al-Adha holiday, police have arrested 172 people on charges of sexual harassment and assault.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Interior Ministry said that over these two days there were a reported 165 cases of verbal or physical harassment against women, with 87 of those cases reported in Cairo, 31 in Fayoum, 23 in Giza, 19 in Suez and five in Luxor.

Men were also arrested on charges related to six different cases of sexual assault in Cairo, and one case in Alexandria.

Already a persistent problem, sexual harassment becomes a particular concern during vacations and holidays, despite recent marches and campaigns advocating the right of women to walk safely in streets.

Activists who launched an initiative dubbed "I witnessed harassment" said in a report issued on Sunday that police efforts to fight acts of sexual harassment were not part of a clear plan developed by the Interior Ministry, but rather individual initiatives on the part of officers.

The report said the Interior Ministry has not been successful in training its forces on how to protect citizens from harassment and not resorting to physically attacking the perpetrators.

There have also been several incidents of sexual harassment reported where police were nearby, but did not intervene or arrest the attackers, the activists said.

The report pointed out that violence and harassment crimes against women and girls in Egypt is increasing. Most of these acts are perpetrated by boys between eight and 20 years old.

Days ahead of the Eid holidays, community-based initiatives against sexual harassment in crowded places were launched, and the government announced its intention to fight these acts.

Prime Minister Hesham Qandil said in a press statement on Sunday that the government was working on a bill for more severe punishments for sexual harassment, which he described as a disastrous and strange phenomenon in Egyptian society.

Activists have long called for amending the Penal Code and to punish harassers, whether men or women, by imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, and a fine not exceeding LE1 thousand.

Earlier this month women protested outside the presidential palace in Cairo, demanding President Mohamed Morsy issue sanctions against harassment.

According to a recent study published by the Egyptian Center for Women's Rights, 83 percent of Egyptian women and 98 percent of foreign visitors experienced one or various forms of harassment in Egypt.

Source: http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/17 ... -activists

[DJKeefy]

This week's Eid al-Adha holidays saw 727 cases of verbal and sexual harassment reported across Egypt, typically taking place in public gathering places, malls and movie theaters, beaches and squares, said security sources on Monday.

The “Seen Harassment” activist initiative spotted several cases in downtown Cairo, especially on Talaat Harb Street, and accused Prime Minister Hesham Qandil of failing to take necessary security measures to prevent such violations.

The initiative was launched earlier this month by six women's rights organizations against sexual harassment that provide free legal support for women who are exposed to harassment or physical violence.

In a report issued on Sunday, the initiative described three cases of harassment that took place in front of police officers who failed to react or intervene. The cases included a 17-year-old girl being harassed by a soldier near Qasr al-Nil Bridge; a young man in his twenties violently pulling a girl by her hair and kissing her; and a veiled girl being harassed while walking with her fiancé, all before the eyes of the police who did not interfere.

The report added that a female member of the initiative was harassed while recording an interview with a television channel in Talaat Harb Square.

The initiative criticized the manner the police deal with harassment complaints as improper and typically allowing offenders to get away with the abuse. The activists held the Interior Ministry responsible for protecting citizens.

Qandil said in a press statement last week that the government was working on a bill for more severe punishments for sexual harassment, which he described as a disastrous and strange phenomenon in Egyptian society.

Activists have long called for amending the Penal Code and to punish harassers, whether men or women, by imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, and a fine not exceeding LE1 thousand.

Earlier this month women protested outside the presidential palace in Cairo, demanding President Mohamed Morsy issue sanctions against harassment.

According to a recent study published by the Egyptian Center for Women's Rights, 83 percent of Egyptian women and 98 percent of foreign visitors experienced one or various forms of harassment in Egypt.

Source: http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/se ... d-over-eid

[Barb]

I tried to get a link of the video of the 'youth against sexual harassment' group in Cairo where they are going round spray painting the faces of any offenders they catch but I cant find it now. WELL DONE to this group!!!!!