“Catcalling”
Justice Minister Hubig wants to punish verbal sexual harassment
The Netherlands recently punished the so -called Catcalling, and this is also debated in this country. Now Federal Minister of Justice Hubig is about this.
Federal Minister of Justice Stefanie Hubig strives to punish verbal sexual harassment. “In my view, a new criminal offense for verbal sexual harassment is quite conceivable,” said the SPD politician of the “Rheinpfalz”. In the coalition agreement, it has been agreed to check whether an expansion of criminal protection against harassment is possible. “That’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
Women and girls are too often affected by sexual harassment and are to be injured or intimidated, explained Hubig. “I find it difficult to bear – and many women with me.”
Hubig: The rule of law is good in “not to overdo it”
When asked where the boundary between a failed compliment and a criminal act in the future, Hubig answered: “Verbal crossing border is usually very clear in the specific situation – including those that commit it.” Although she admitted gray areas, it also emphasized: “Our rule of law is good at dealing with such gray areas – and not overdoing it.”
Hubig’s party friend and deputy parliamentary group leader Sonja Eichwede had also spoken out in the “Stern” at the beginning of the month for a punishment for sexual harassment with words – initially in the form of fines. “However, such questions must be clarified in a legislative procedure,” explained Eichwede.
With a punishment for verbal sexual harassment, Germany would not be the first country to take this step: since July 2024, sexual harassment in public space in the Netherlands has been punishable. This also includes the so -called catcalling, as verbal sexual harassment is often referred to.
For Hubig, the term is trivializing, as the “Rheinpfalz” says. Sexual harassment must be mentioned by the name, because it is about targeted crossing of border. In addition, the term itself has a sexist undertone.
lib
Source: Stern
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