CAIRO: HarassMap, a Cairo-based website that monitors and archives all acts of sexual harassment in the greater Cairo area, is launching a new SMS short code system which will be unveiled ahead of the upcoming Eid holiday. A public event to launch the new system will be held in the Tahrir Lounge at the Goethe Institute in downtown Cairo. Organizers of the new system hope to “inspire and organize community action against sexual harassment during the Eid holiday and launch our new slogans and SMS short code for reporting sexual harassment: 6069.” Harassmap's new logo reflects the organisation's belief that the key to stopping sexual harassment is in the hands of the individuals. “During the first days of the revolution, we were all proud of the fact that sexual harassment almost disappeared. And responsible for this amazing change was not the police, and it was not a new law, it was citizens like each of us refusing to tolerate harassment in our own streets,” the press release stated. “Likewise, our parents and grandparents remember the times in Egypt when neighbors would stand up to harassers and take pride in the dignity and safety of our streets – sometimes even chasing harassers and shaving their heads.” Through HarassMap, organizers hope to encourage the return of this sense of pride in regards to their traditions and values concerning sex offenders. HarassMap has volunteers who reach out to people in their own neighborhoods, asking them to be watchful against such behavior, and asking them to speak up against it. The organisation also wants to create “Safe Area” in shops and public transportation, and aims to provide aid for victims with coping and legal matters. According to HarassMap, they have received almost 600 reports of sexual harassment, and roughly 500 volunteers from around the country since its creation in December 2010. Harassmap was founded by four women who were fed up with Egypt's endemic sexual harassment problem. The four women are Engy Ghozlan, Rebecca Chaio, Amel Fahmy and Sawsan Gad. With the help of NiJel, HarassMap was successfully launched. BM
