Health

FRANCE GETS TOUGH WITH SEXUAL HARASSEMENT ON ITS PUBLIC TRANSPORT NETWORKS

COMES NOT LONG AFTER A SURVEY ON SUBJECT


(Source: Ruby BIRD & Yasmina BEDDOU)
(Source: Ruby BIRD & Yasmina BEDDOU)
USPA NEWS - France has vowed to put a 'stop' to the scourge of sexual harassment on public transport by launching a new campaign. It comes not long after a survey on the subject. So, France launched an awareness campaign Monday in a bid to halt the crude comments, groping and sexual violence that women face...
France has vowed to put a 'stop' to the scourge of sexual harassment on public transport by launching a new campaign. It comes not long after a survey on the subject. So, France launched an awareness campaign Monday in a bid to halt the crude comments, groping and sexual violence that women face daily on public transport.

It will see flyers handed out and a set of posters put up in key places around the capital, encouraging victims and witnesses to speak out with confidence about sexual harassment.
The scenario is one of several on posters at bus, train and metro stations that the government hopes will raise awareness about sexual harassment, a global problem which has prompted similar campaigns in major cities from New York to London.

Women are advised how to react, such as urging fellow passengers to look up from their smartphones and step in, to reminding their aggressor that touching them in an inappropriate manner can land them up to five years in prison.
Outspoken French feminist group Osez le Féminisme! was one of the organizations behind the push to get authorities to take notice, and welcomed the move on Monday.

One of the group's members said that the feminist group joined the push to pressure the RATP to run the awareness campaign after it had recently run something similar to remind passengers to be polite and respectful to their fellow passengers.
The campaign, also rolled out on social media, is part of French government efforts to tackle a problem which an official report in April described as 'massive, violent and having significant negative impacts.'...It reminds travellers that cat-calls and comments on a woman's appearance are unacceptable, while threats, public masturbation, or rubbing up against a woman on public transport are punishable by heavy fines or prison time. (France24)

Ruby BIRD
http://www.portfolio.uspa24.com/
Yasmina BEDDOU
http://www.yasmina-beddou.uspa24.com/
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