Twenty municipalities, together with outgoing Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf (Education, Culture and Science, D66), signed a statement on Thursday stating that they will tackle the insecurity of women on the street and when going out. That the municipalities report Friday, on International Women’s Day. The collective wants, among other things, to increase awareness about intimidating or otherwise unpleasant behavior among men and boys. The ministry partially finances the initiative.
The municipalities point out that two-thirds of girls and women between the ages of twelve and twenty-five have been harassed on the street in recent years. They were chased, shouted at, or whistled at, among other things. A third of girls and women felt unsafe because of this type of behavior, while only 6 percent of men and boys were frightened on the street.
The four major cities and a large number of medium-sized cities have joined the initiative. Initially, the group will exchange tips and experiences for preventing street harassment. This could be, for example, by providing information at schools and to police officers, or by placing more neighborhood watches in entertainment areas.
Also read
‘McBeauty’, ‘honey’, ‘whore’. Why the reactions of unknown men on the street arouse my anger