Does She Travel Safe?

“ I was about 14 years old when I was sexually harassed in a bus for the very first time.

I was traveling on a bus with a friend after school for the first time. We were excited as this was a little adventurous for us. The excitement did not last any longer.

I noticed an elder man who was standing behind us. He whispered explicit comments and rubbed his genitals on me. I froze with fear.  I could not move nor confront him.  I became completely numb. 

My friend realized what was happening but I knew she too was scared to react.  Tears started rolling down on my face and I felt helpless. 

This act continued for a while. A lady noticed and offered me her seat. As I moved there, the perpetrator got off the bus.

None of the bystanders intervened, and for days I could not overcome my fear.

My friend and I promised each other that this would remain a secret,” Janani, one of the victims of sexual harassment in public transport in Sri Lanka told.

Janani’s story of sexual harassment on public transport in Sri Lanka is far too common.  Sexual harassment of women in public transport has become a major issue in Sri Lanka.

United Nations Population Fund(UNFPA) has revealed in of its reports that 90% of women and girls have endured sexual harassment at least once in their lifetime on public buses and trains. Only 4% of those affected reported the incident to the police.

As defined by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Policy on harassment, “Sexual harassment encompasses any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favour, verbal or physical conduct or gesture of a sexual nature, or any other behaviour of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation to another. Sexual harassment may occur when it interferes with work – sexual advances are made a condition of employment or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. It can include a one-off incident or a series of incidents. Sexual harassment may be deliberate, unsolicited and coercive. Both male and female colleagues can either be the victim or offender. Sexual harassment may also occur outside the workplace and/or outside working hours”. (2005)

Picture Courtesy: http://srilankabrief.org/

However, in public transport, harassment can include verbal and non-verbal behaviors which can include sexual remarks, whistling, groping and touching. Even though under section 345 of the Penal code of 1995, sexual harassment is considered a crime and therefore punishable in Sri Lanka. However, reports about these incidents, unfortunately, go unnoticed.

Sexual harassment on public transport contributes to a culture that discriminates women and girls and affects them physically, psychologically and economically.

In December 2015, UNFPA commissioned a national study on sexual harassment against women on public buses and trains in Sri Lanka. According to this study, 50 percent of the working women in Sri Lanka use public transportation services such as buses and trains as a means of traveling to their workplace. 28 percent of the participants said they travel on the public buses to go to their educational institutions while 20 percent travel for other personal purposes. However, there is evidence that harassment and the threat of harassment are limiting women’s mobility, participation in public life and overall well-being. It can also be one of the major reasons behind the decline in female labor force participation in Sri Lanka which has decreased from 39.5% in 2006 to 34.7% in 2014.

A quarter of survey participants said harassment occurred monthly. About 12 percent said that they faced harassment daily. In some cases, women reported it was so frequent, and alternative modes of travel were so scarce that they rushed to their residence to escape.

Forty-four percent of women said that harassment on public transport affected their personal lives. Twenty-nine percent said it had an impact on their school performance, and 37 percent said it negatively affected their work performance.

When we consider the Law against sexual harassment in Sri Lanka, Section 345 of the Penal Code (Amendment) Act, No. 22 of 1995  recognizes sexual harassment as an offense that is criminally punishable. If the perpetrator is convicted, the penalty for such an act is imprisonment up to five years and/or a fine. The perpetrator may also be ordered to pay compensation to the aggrieved person.

However, According to the UNFPA survey, 52% of respondents were aware of a law rendering sexual harassment as a criminal offense. But, unfortunately, 60% were not aware that there was a penalty for the crime of sexual harassment.

In order for this issue to be diminished, it is important that the size and scope of the issue gain publicity and awareness. Furthermore, women should be able to feel empowered and safe to report a crime to local authorities. This requires, among other things, a functioning and reliable legal and political system, actual punishment of perpetrators, and campaigns to empower women on this matter to eventually create a safe environment for them to travel in. It should be self-evident for women to travel safely by public transportation.