Hollaback! New Group Aims To End Street Harassment In Dublin

Hollaback!, an international organization dedicated to ending street harassment, launches in Dublin today.

Non-contact unwanted sexual experiences, including street harassment, are one of the most prevalent forms of sexual violence for both men and women. Internationally, studies show that between 80-99% of women experience street harassment at some point during their lives. Hollaback! is now in 62 cities and 25 countries, with leaders speaking more than 10 different languages.

Individuals who experience street harassment in Dublin are invited to share their stories at dublin.ihollaback.org. Street harassment is a pervasive problem in Dublin. At any time of day, women and LGBT individuals are subjected to unwanted attention in the form of lewd comments, jeers, groping, intimidation tactics, and more. Hollaback! Dublin will be celebrating the launch of the site with an event at Solas Bar (31 Wexford Street) on 28 November, at which all are welcome. Following the site’s launch, we plan to hold workshops in colleges and communities to educate people about street harassment.

“'I am delighted to welcome the international anti- street harassment movement Hollaback! to Dublin,” said Senator Ivana Bacik. “Women in this city, as in many other cities worldwide, have long been subjected to a pervasive culture of street harassment and lewd comments. It's time for us to challenge this culture and I am delighted that Hollaback! is here to help us take back our streets!' 

The aim of Hollaback! Dublin is to support individuals who experience street harassment in sharing their stories to let them know they are not alone and they do not have to put up with disrespectful and frightening behaviour. We need to change the attitudes that allow these forms of gender-based violence and discrimination to persist. Hollaback! Dublin is run by a team of local community leaders who are deeply committed to working online and offline to end street harassment in their community.

Hollaback! Dublin will run their local blog and organize their communities through advocacy, community partnerships, and direct action. The leaders of Hollaback! Dublin are as diverse in their backgrounds as they are in their experiences of harassment. The Hollaback! movement reports that 41% of site leaders are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer, 33% identify as people of color, 76% are under the age of 30, and 90% are women.