New app to report sexual harassment on Brussels streets

The Brussels region is funding the development of a mobile phone application to help women - and witnesses - report incidents of sexual harassment on the city's streets.

The app is inspired by Handsaway, a similar service in France that aims to track incidents of "everyday sexism". The launch of the Brussels version was announced by the region's secretary of state for equality, Bianca Debaets, working alongside the not-for-profit association Touche Pas A Ma Pote.

Victims of physical or verbal harassment can log what happened using the app's geo-localisation feature. Other app users in the area are alerted and can come to the victim's help or add a witness statement. Developers hope it will improve understanding of street harassment and encourage witnesses to come forward.

According to a recent study, 30% of women have suffered some form of physical violence in public and 60% have been harassed.

"Many women are still harassed, intimidated or insulted on our streets," said Debaets. "There is still not enough respect for women - and many of them tend to play down the incident because they feel powerless in these situations."

Development on the app - which has yet to be named - has just begun. A release date has yet to be confirmed. The goal is to attract at least 6,000 users in the launch phase.