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  1. Shifting the Narrative
  2. 16 Days of Activism
  3. Meet Rebecca Chiao, Egypt

Meet Rebecca Chiao, Egypt

Rebecca is the co-founder of HarassMap, an organization committed to converting the streets of Egypt into a safe space for all women.

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Meet Rebecca Chiao, Egypt

Rebecca was born and raised in the United States, and had originally planned to follow a career in medicine. A three-week study tour to Israel/Palestine inspired her to switch gears. After witnessing Israeli oppression against the Palestinian people, Rebecca felt compelled to challenge injustice. She studied international development and then accepted an opportunity to work with a grassroots organization in Egypt.

Rebecca quickly experienced the sexual harassment women in Egypt face on the street every day. Rebecca realized that Egypt’s legal system does not implement existing sexual harassment laws. In 2005, she took matters in to her own hands and began to tackle the issue at street level. Alongside a team of volunteers, Rebecca encouraged survivors and witnesses to report incidents of sexual violence. This initiative would soon evolve into HarassMap.

HarassMap is an online tool that pinpoints incidents of sexual violence throughout Egypt. Survivors and witnesses use text messaging to report cases of harassment directly to HarassMap. Since December 2010, survivors and witnesses have reported over 1200 incidents of sexual harassment and assault which are categorized on a map and made viewable online. Rebecca uses the map to show the scope of sexual harassment in Egypt, and to inspire others to act.

Recent violent protests in Tahrir Square — such as those in June 2013 during which at least 91 women were sexually assaulted by mobs—have brought new urgency to the issue of women’s safety in Egypt. Through HarassMap’s citizen-led, street level engagement model, Rebecca is able to address the need for change and action.

“The solution has to come from us,” says Rebecca. Her initiative has gained international recognition for its ability to effectively mobilize Egyptian citizens against sexual violence and harassment against women.

LEARN MORE

Visit HarassMap’s website.

Read more about how HarassMap works to keep women safe as sexual violence escalates in Egypt.

“Egypt ‘worst for women’ out of 22 countries in Arab world”. BBC News, 12 November 2013.

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16 Days of Activism

November 25, 2022

Afrah Nassar: "Believe that you are worth listening to."

November 25, 2022

Jamila Afghani: “We should extend hands of support to each other."

November 25, 2022

Mèaza Gidey Gebremedhin: “I always need to fight for myself, for my place in this world, and to help others.”

November 25, 2022

A Q&A with democracy activist Khin Ohmar: "I feel at peace knowing there is a young generation fighting for their rights."

November 25, 2022

Amira Osman Hamed: "Don't let them terrify you."

November 25, 2022

Lubna Alkanawati: "What's really helped me to survive is the women's network around me."

November 25, 2022

Nina Potarska, Anna Chernova and Oksana Senyk: "Family peace is a small piece of peacebuilding."

November 25, 2022

Nadia Murad: "We don't get anywhere by pacifying with politeness."

December 10, 2021

Manal Shqair: I’m always fighting every day for my existence as a woman (Palestine)

December 9, 2021

Ounaysa Arabi: Knowledge is power and we have a good inheritance from feminists around the world (Sudan)

December 9, 2021

Ilaf Nasreldin: We as women deserve to live a better life (Sudan)

December 8, 2021

Musu Diamond Kamara: When one woman is affronted, all of us are affronted (Liberia)

More — 16 Days of Activism

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