Introduced by: Councilmember Curran
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Investigative Hearing - Street Harassment
For the purpose of raising awareness about gender-based street harassment, assisting efforts to find ways to stop the intimidation that occurs through street harassment and to raise awareness that street harassment is tied intrinsically with institutional sexism and the culture of gender based violence, encouraging the reporting of street harassment by use of smartphones and other means to document, map and share incidents, including data about street harassment to empower public conversations, and showing the Council’s support for the development of innovative strategies to ensure equal access to public spaces.
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Recitals
Whereas, street harassment is defined as unwanted comments, gestures, and actions forced on a stranger in a public place without their consent and is directed at them because of their actual or perceived sex, gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation. Street harassment ranges from verbal comments, lewd gestures, whistling, and upskirt photos, to following, flashing, public masturbation, and physical sexual abuse.
Whereas, many forms of street harassment are believed to be 'compliments', they are not, and instead can be classed with bullying. Street harssment is a form of sexual harassment and infringes on human rights, including but not limited to the right to walk in public spaces. Street harassment is tied intrinsically with institutional sexism and the culture of gender-based violence.
Whereas, a common street harassment technique is for a stranger to approach a woman speakin...
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