How do we curb sexual harassment in Lebanon?

Nasawiya, a Lebanese feminist collective, came up with the story of Salwa to raise awareness amongst young people on the issue of sexual harassment. Salwa, who never leaves home without her trustworthy little red purse, embarks on different adventures where she meets people who try to harass her.

Her adventures take place in different settings: at work, at her house, on the street or even on a university campus. Nasawiya considers that although sexual harassment is an issue that we might be exposed to every day, it is still regarded as a taboo by the Lebanese society.

More than a year ago, Nasawiya launched an awareness campaign and organized several seminars in universities to raise awareness amongst students on the dangers of sexual harassment and the different ways to prevent them.

With the start of the school year, a booklet, holding all information and guidelines pertaining to the subject, was distributed to college and school students.

The campaign’s organizers stress that staying silent on the issue of sexual harassment will only worsen the problem, adding that they do not encourage women to resort to violent means to face their predators.