Ramsco's Women Empowerment Initiative Recognized Among Top BRICS Businesswomen Practices for 2025    Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    Gold prices end July with modest gains    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Egypt's FM, US envoy discuss Gaza ceasefire, Iran nuclear talks    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Federal Reserve maintains interest rates    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's EDA explores pharma cooperation with Belarus    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Joint campaign to work toward a harassment-free Eid
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 30 - 08 - 2011

Volunteers have launched a campaign in Cairo and Alexandria to fight sexual harassment during Eid.
The "Safe Eid for Egyptian Women" campaign, launched by a number of groups, aims to raise awareness about sexual harassment and counter common misconceptions about the issue.
Online videos shot by bloggers circulated virally in 2006, showing women being sexually assaulted by men in the middle of the streets during Eid. The incident spurred campaigns and initiatives to fight the issue, which extends beyond Eid and is an ordinary part of women's lives in Egypt.
Campaign organizers held a meeting at El Sawy Culture Wheel on 27 August to train volunteers about their role in community awareness.
"Volunteers will be given brochures about harassment to distribute in different parts of Cairo throughout the three days of Eid," said Engy Ghozlan, one of the campaign's coordinators in Cairo.
She said volunteers will also talk to people in the streets about the misconceptions associated with sexual harassment, as women are sometimes blamed for provoking men because of their dress, or men are excused because of late marriage and a lacking sexual life, give difficult economic conditions.
"I won't keep silent over harassment" is a Facebook group with more than 1500 "likes" and is a partner in the initiative.
Through republishing links related to harassment incidents, the Facebook page is raising awareness about the magnitude of the problem. It also serves as a platform for open conversations about the issue of harassment and how stereotypes can be fought in order to eradicate harassment. Coordinators view the online aspect of the campaign as crucial because it can attract more supporters and volunteers.
HarassMap, the online mapping tool that crowd sources incidents of harassment and encourage reporting them, is also a partner in the campaign. Some political parties, including Karama, Wasat and Ghad, expressed support for it.
In Alexandria, six committees share the campaign work. One committee will prepare a comprehensive report about the campaign and measure its success, strengths and weaknesses.
A psychological support committee trains volunteers on how to give harassed women necessary support. It will also offer psychological support for men and women after Eid through partnering NGOs.
The legal committee gives volunteers information about harassment laws and legal steps that victims of harassment can take.
The surveying committee engages with people, asking them questions about the causes, consequences and different solutions they have on the question of harassment.
A popular committee is made of volunteers spread around to protect women in crowded areas during Eid.
"The committee wouldn't attack anyone, it will just be there to prevent any attack or protect women in case of indecent behaviors," said Shahinaz al-Hennawy, Alexandria campaign coordinator.
An awareness committee prepares messages to be delivered to people through brochures, mobile messages and stickers in the streets.
"We meant to put our stickers on different shops downtown so shop owners feel like it's their campaign as well," explained Hennawy.
Hennawy said they tried to incorporate caricature in their brochures to deliver a simple and effective message.


Clic here to read the story from its source.