Hollaback is a global movement to end street harassment – a form of sexual violence experienced by up to 90% of women, LGBTQ people and other minority groups in public spaces and on public transport. Street harassment is pervasive, prevalent and at times profoundly distressing, ranging from cat-calls to unwanted touching, public ma********on, and more serious forms of sexual assault, and there is
no single safe and effective way to respond to it when it happens. The campaign uses a web-based platform as a 21st century camp fire where victims of street harassment can share their stories in a safe environment, uploading them to our website so that they can be shared with others, collated and woven together with other stories to build a clearer picture of street harassment in Bristol than has ever been done before. Hollaback has harnessed the latest technology by developing iphone and droid apps to make the website accessible in the moment of harassment, finally giving victims a safe way to respond to harassers on the street. Our volunteer campaigners also work to raise awareness by working with community and minority groups, other service providers, Bristol City Council and Avon and Somerset Police by giving talks and presentations, delivering workshops and offering information on the latest research taking place that examines the issue around the world. There are currently 26 Holla-cities around the world, and Bristol will be launching with 16 more in August 2011, bringing Hollaback's hugely successful approach to the issue to Bristol in a positive, inclusive, non-confrontational campaign that aims to challenge the culture of street harassment and make our city a safer place for everyone.
