No compliment

The district participates in the campaign "No Compliments". The aim is to make catcalling, i.e. verbal sexual harassment, visible and to raise awareness. Therefore, all those affected are called upon to send their experiences to the district's Women and Equal Opportunities Service. These will be published anonymously on the day of action against catcalling on 14 June 2024 - i.e. written on the ground with chalk at the "crime scenes".

Catcalling. What is that actually?

Whistling or kissing noises, intrusive glances, insinuating remarks on the open street: these are still rather harmless examples of the rather cute term "catcalling". The term comes from the English colloquial language and means something like "cat-calling": Catcalling includes all sexually connotated behaviour or various types of sexual harassment without physical contact in public spaces.

Hey sweetie, stop for a second!

Ey, horny ass!

Wow, baby!

Catcalling has bad effects!
"Catcalling" is mainly directed against younger women. Street harassment affects victims physically and emotionally: They reported symptoms such as muscle tension, breathing difficulties, dizziness and nausea as well as strong fear, e.g. of being raped or of not being able to protect their privacy. Catcalling leads to women and girls avoiding areas in public space and no longer moving about in public in an unbiased manner.

Catcalling: a social problem
44 per cent women and 32 per cent men have already experienced such sexist attacks: this is the result of a recent study by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. The mostly non-contact, forced sexual assault is currently not a separate criminal offence or misdemeanour. In countries like Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands, catcalling is already punishable.

Equal Opportunities Commissioner against Catcalling

In total, more than 40 municipalities and districts nationwide are involved in the campaign. Reports are collected and documented there.