Awareness-raising campaign against catcalling in public transport
The district of Waldeck-Frankenberg is stepping up its efforts against verbal sexual harassment with a new awareness-raising campaign on buses and trains. In cooperation with StadtBus GmbH Bad Wildungen and Kurhessenbahn, posters with examples of catcalls will be displayed in local public transport vehicles. The campaign calls on those affected to share their experiences and report catcalls. After all, the experience does not have to be endured in silence - by reporting it, the feeling of sovereignty over the situation can be regained.
Sexual harassment mainly takes place in public spaces. The posters on buses and trains are not only intended to remind people that sayings such as "Hey, sweetie, travelling all alone?" or "Nice legs - where are they going?" are not compliments, but also to directly offer help to those affected. "We want to send a clear signal with this campaign: Catcalling is no small matter, but a form of sexual harassment that must not be tolerated," explained First District Councillor Karl-Friedrich Frese. "We want to encourage those affected to raise their voices and fight back."
Studies show that women and members of the LGBTIQ* community are particularly affected by catcalling. The consequences range from anxiety and avoidance behaviour to psychological stress. Miriam Drüppel from the Women and Equal Opportunities Service emphasises: "It's about giving those affected the opportunity to act effectively without having to put themselves at risk in the situation. Reporting incidents can help them to process their own anger and regain a sense of control."
The campaign is part of the Germany-wide #KeinKompliment initiative, which the district of 2023 has joined. It aims to make catcalling visible and raise awareness of it. "The NVV attaches great importance to ensuring that our passengers feel comfortable and safe when travelling by bus and train. That is why we are happy to support the Waldeck-Frankenberg district's campaign against verbal sexual harassment," added Marian Volmer, Managing Director of Nordhessischer VerkehrsVerbund. Bernd Wagner, Managing Director of StadtBus GmbH, agrees and adds: "It is important to inform those affected that they can defend themselves against verbal harassment and how they can do so. The poster campaign provides precisely this information."
Catcalling experiences can be reported via a QR code on the posters or at
www.landkreis-waldeck-frankenberg.de/keinkompliment. The reports will be treated confidentially, collected anonymously and made publicly visible on the nationwide day of action on 13 June. The campaign is also a response to the Hessian state government's new women's safety package, which is intended to enable more effective prosecution of catcalling offences. Further information on this topic can be found under the keywords below.
Caption: (from left) Judith Féaux de Lacroix and Mehtap Karagandere from NVV, Jens Wrabletz from Kurhessenbahn and Miriam Drüppel from the Women and Equal Opportunities Service of the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg join forces with StadtBus GmbH to set an example against verbal sexual harassment. Photo: District of Waldeck-Frankenberg