Girls feel there is little point in reporting sexual harassment to authorities since there is hardly any action, according to a report which shows that young women suffer relentless abuse in cities worldwide, including Delhi.
The report from child rights organisation Plan International, based on more than 21,000 testimonials of girls and young women living in Delhi, Kampala, Lima, Madrid and Sydney, found that in all five cities, boys and men grope, chase, stalk, leer at, verbally insult, and flash girls and young women.
While such behaviour is condoned by society, bystanders and authorities rarely take action, according to the report by researchers including those from Monash University in Australia.
This forces girls to adjust their behaviour to protect themselves. CEO of Plan International Australia, Susanne Legena, said the research provides a previously unseen glimpse of the impact of harassment and abuse on the lives of girls and young women.
“Constant harassment and abuse is frightening and draining, and leaves young women feeling completely disempowered. This indifference and inaction leads many girls and young women to blame themselves for abuse and harassment,” Legena said.
“What’s more, by forcing girls and women to constantly adjust their behaviour to stay safe, society is denying them the benefits and opportunities of city life,” she said.
