Marwa Rakha for Think Africa Press:
HARASSMAP – BEING POSITIVE ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN EGYPT
January 2011
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I parked my car two blocks away and ventured across the busy streets of Mohandeseen in Cairo. I ignored a couple of whistles and some murmurs by passersby. A car just stopped in the middle of the street and the driver rolled down the window and said something to me as I stepped into the entrance of the HarassMap building. I expected to find an office fully loaded with employees, equipment, and gadgets. I rang the bell and a tall slender woman in her mid thirties opened the door. She greeted me with a smile and said: “Hello, Marwa! My Name is Rebecca Chiao! Welcome to my home! Please come in and make yourself comfortable as we wrap up a radio interview.”
I sat in a cozy armchair and began looking around; to my right, I saw a plugged in laptop seated on a low table, a wireless internet modem, and a USB. Half an hour later, Rebecca came into the “waiting area” accompanied by Engy Ghozlan; Engy is a 25 year old women’s rights activist whom I have met on several occasions. Until that moment I was not sure who was doing what in HarassMap.org. After the initial greetings, I asked the two ladies to tell me who is behind Harassmap.
WATCH VIDEOS:
Video explaining the phases of the initiative
Video showing how HarassMap works; Engy is pretending that she was harassed and is sending an SMS to the reporting number saved on her phone.
How man reports per day on HarassMap
How can People submit reports to HarassMap
Approving Reports on HarassMap
Rejecting Reports on HarassMap
Skepticism over HarassMap
Abusing HarassMap
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