Campaign against catcalling continues
Since 2023, the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg and its Women and Equal Opportunities Service have been part of the nationwide #KeinKomliment campaign. As part of the campaign, catcalling experiences are collected and anonymously chalked on the streets on the National Day of Action, the second Friday in June. The aim of the campaign is to make catcalling, i.e. verbal sexual harassment, visible and sensitise people to it.
Under the motto "Catcalling is not a compliment. But neither is looking away." in Waldeck-Frankenberg, attention is also being drawn to the issue on trains and buses and this year's campaign calls for more civil courage in the event of verbal sexual harassment. This year's cooperation partners are the local energy supplier EWF (public transport organisation), the Nordhessischer Verkehrsverbund and the Kurhessenbahn.
Raising awareness makes particular sense on public transport, emphasise First District Councillor Karl-Friedrich Frese and EWF Managing Director Frank Benz. This is because verbal sexual harassment mainly takes place in public spaces. This also includes bus stops and railway stations, for example. It is important to draw attention to support services in precisely these public spaces - especially for those who observe catcalling and can help those affected, added Kurhessenbahn Managing Director Jens Wrabletz and NVV Managing Director Marian Vollmer.
The support services show observers ways to support those affected. After all, sexual harassment not only affects those directly affected, but can also affect the sense of safety of all women and girls in public spaces. It is not about ensuring safety in public spaces, but about empowering people to support each other if they feel that boundaries are being crossed. In threatening situations or in case of doubt, the police should always be called.
"Last year's public transport campaign proved to be an important space for reaching as many people as possible with our message," reports Miriam Drüppel, Deputy Women's and Equal Opportunities Officer for the district. In a very short space of time, more experiences of verbal sexual harassment were reported to the Women's Office as part of the campaign in 2025 than in previous years in total. This emphasises the importance of visibly raising awareness in public spaces and also shows that there is a need for further action!
The debate about what was done to Collien Fernandes by her husband has given the topic a highly topical new significance. It is not only women who are now increasingly demanding that it cannot be the task of those affected alone to name all forms of violence against women and show solidarity. This is a task that we as a society as a whole have to shoulder. Violence does not just begin with a punch or (verbal) sexual harassment in public spaces. It begins where people do not take a stand against sexist behaviour, where they prefer to look the other way - instead of supporting those affected. "With this campaign, we want to give all our fellow citizens options for action so that they are not part of those who tolerate misogyny," concludes Miriam Drüppel.
Picture caption: The district, EWF, NVV and Kurhessenbahn are also taking part in the nationwide #KeinKomliment campaign in 2026: (from left to right) Tanja Schreiber, Women and Equal Opportunities Department; First District Councillor Karl-Friedrich Frese; NVV Press Officer Judith Féaux de Lacroix; EWF Managing Director Frank Benz; Miriam Drüppel, Deputy Head of Women and Equal Opportunities Department; Kurhessenbahn Managing Director Jens Wrabletz. (Photo: District of Waldeck-Frankenberg)
Keywords:
Women and Equal Opportunities Service No compliments Together against violence