Original version

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

The Conversation

Factual: Life Stories

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Two women from different parts of the world, united by a common passion, experience or expertise, share the stories of their lives.

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

BBC World Service

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service South Asia

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service News Internet

The Conversation: We refuse to accept street harassment

Magazines & Reviews

Elsa D'Silva and Marie Laguerre

15/07/2019 GMT

We refuse to accept street harassment

BBC World Service - The Conversation, We refuse to accept street harassment

Two women making the streets safer in India and in France

Zero tolerance for street harassment. Two activists in France and India tell Kim Chakanetsa why they won't accept wolf whistles, groping or violent attacks on women in public spaces.

Marie Laguerre is a French student who was cat-called and then assaulted outside a café in Paris in July 2018.  The moment was captured on a video which went viral, getting nine million views. The man responsible was sent to prison for violence, but not for harassment. Marie has now become a figurehead for activism on this issue, and has started a website where women can anonymously report their stories of harassment and abuse.

Elsa D'Silva is an Indian activist who founded SafeCity, an app and a movement to identify, map and combat sexual violence on the streets. Spurred on by the gang rape of Jyoti Singh Pandey in Delhi in 2012, Elsa decided it was time for women to take matters into their own hands. Her project has now expanded to Nepal, Kenya and Cameroon, and has had concrete results - toilets and streetlights have been fixed, police have upped patrols and men have been shamed into stopping staring.

Image: 
(L) Photo and credit: Elsa D'Silva
(R) Marie Laguerre  Credit: Lily Martin, CBC

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Conversation

We refuse to accept street harassment

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

About BBC World Service