Hampering Harassment: Technology as Tool and Megaphone

Victims of harassment are using technology in innovative ways.

Nowadays, technology and media are doing more than just toppling regimes. Victims of stalking, groping, or catcalling–which include locals and foreigners alike in the Middle East– can now document their cases on the Web, launch candid discussions of harassment in online forums, and watch cartoons and movies designed to raise awareness of the issue.
 
In Egypt, where the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights’ 2009 conference reported that 83 percent of Egyptian women have experienced sexual harassment, volunteers have created HarassMap.org, a website that lets users document cases of sexual harassment across the country on an interactive Google map. Egyptian youth have also launched campaigns, with one entitled “You’ve Still Got Real Men, Egypt” attracting over 47,000 members to its Facebook group. Recently, the Egyptian film 678 made waves by depicting Cairene women’s experiences with harassment on public transportation. Similarly, activists in Lebanon recently launched “The Adventures of Salwa,” a video series featuring a sassy cartoon heroine who fights off advances. Top-down initiatives are also emerging in the region: the Dubai Security Awareness Department recently sent SMS messages warning citizens about the penalties for sexual harassment.
 
In addition to changing public perceptions of sexual harassment, these initiatives might also bolster existing laws that are rarely enforced. Tunisian law, for example, stipulates that harassers must pay a $2,307 fine and serve jail time. If initiatives like HarassMap continue, it could be harder for governments to turn a blind eye.

This piece is a part of Mezze, a monthly short article series spotlighting societal trends across the region. It originally appeared in the Middle East Program's monthly newsletter, Middle East Notes and Comment. For more information and to receive our mailings, please contact the Middle East Program.