Street harassment: 8 apps that come to the rescue of victims<

In the street, armed with their dubious flirting techniques, the men play the Alpha males and create a climate of fear. They roar in front of female silhouettes and chain misogynistic speeches. Curling up on themselves, the victims try to circumvent these ill-mannered beings. Head down, face closed, they want to extricate themselves from this open hell.

Crossed by a wave of stress, they then multiply the SMS. "A guy is following me, what should I do?", "I'm terrified", "I'll tell you as soon as I get home"... alarming words that testify to a sad reality. In large cities or in the provinces, street harassment has become commonplace. An anxiety-provoking atmosphere reigns in the heart of public places. Fortunately, thanks to technological advances, a wide range of "bodyguard 2.0" is flourishing. Successful applications thus fight against street harassment and become white knights of modern times. Overview of these multifunction solutions.

1 - Street alert

The story

Released at the end of July 2020, this application has been taken by storm. Within weeks, it had a record number of downloads. It went from fifty users to more than 2,000 in a handful of days. This benevolent and beneficial support created by a Parisian student has almost as many men as women. Between the friction in public transport, the insistent looks, the inappropriate words, the homophobic insults… difficult to feel safe. Urban space is an agonizing hostile jungle. With each solitary outing, stress emerges.

Operation

So, if you feel in danger or a malicious being points the tip of his nose, you can issue an alert without being detected. Several buttons are at your disposal: aggression, follow-up, harassment, witness. Street-Alert operates on the principle of solidarity. Thanks to geolocation, other users within a radius of 500 meters receive a notification on their smartphone. They can then come to your aid or call the police if the risks are too dangerous. It's a kind of reassuring Google Maps. For even more efficiency, you can provide some details about the attacker's outfit or details about the situation.

> Application available on App Store and Google Play.

2 - Keep your body

The story

The anti-harassment application Keep your body takes on the air of a comforting security guard and is like a guardian angel 2.0. Tired of these terrifying streets and these recurring attacks, Pauline Vanderquand germinated this genius device. First based in Aix-en-Provence, the application then flourished throughout the Bouches-du-Rhône. Cut in its tracks with confinement, it resumes the path of innovation and keeps its ambitions. It extended Guard Your Body to the City of Light and now it's available nationwide.

Operation

The application revolves around three functions. "I'm going" allows you to send an SMS to trusted contacts, to inform them of your trip in real time thanks to geolocation and to share your battery level. In case of problems, they receive an alert and are invited to call you back urgently or to contact the police services. "Let go" gives access to a map listing the "safe places" of the city where you are. Restaurants, bars, shops, hotels then act as a refuge in the event of harassment.

These "partner" structures undertake to offer you a reception area in which you can contact a taxi or a friend. Finally, "Help me" informs loved ones of imminent danger. In a fraction of a second an SMS is displayed on their screens to act quickly. To put an end to this scourge, it decides to widen its field of action. Two new features have been added to the previous ones: "I go out" and "I travel" to walk around with a light mind.

> Application available on App Store and Google Play.

3 - The Sorority

The story

This name sounds like a rallying cry. The Sorority is a solidarity network in which all women stick together. A perfect combination to thwart the tricks of diabolical and immodest individuals. This precious alchemy is the result of a long process of reflection. It was in the mind of Priscillia Routier Trillard that the idea germinated. In full remission from a burn-out, the thirty-year-old dives into books, learns and examines the effect of amazement. It was while leafing through "Soul of a witch" by Odile Chabrillac that she had the click. The book evoked sisterhood, a notion often neglected and left aside. The bubbly young woman has made it her mainstay.

Operation

To avoid abuses and other questionable behavior, The Sorority has chosen to be single-sex. Thus, she devotes herself entirely to women and gender minorities. The application to fight against street harassment is based on two aspects: security and sharing. Several response options are available to you to report an attack. You can either display a large message on your screen to directly challenge people around you, trigger an audible alarm to attract attention and deter the attacker or call the authorities via a shortcut.

But the flagship functionality of this application is also based on geolocation. Other The Sorority users can see your location and take action in a number of ways: by calling you, chatting with you, or meeting you on location. In the other part, you can find essential resources to document yourself. Keys to understanding around certain aberrations as well as protective advice are at your disposal.

> Application available on App Store and Google Play.

4 - My Hood

The story

This app against street harassment is the pixelated ally that saves you from the "big bad wolves". On the same principle as carpooling, Mon Chaperon gave birth to copying. When night falls, the shops draw the curtain and the streets empty, the pressure rises crescendo. To relieve this feeling of insecurity, the application puts you in contact with other pedestrians who make the same journey. Thus, you are no longer alone, you share your journey or your trip by public transport with a safe person.

Operation

Indeed, Mon Chaperon clearly specifies that the "copieton" profiles are combed through. As on the Uber or Kaptain apps, you can leave a rating and a review for your night companion. The application has expanded its services and since 2018 has offered an emergency button to directly contact the police, firefighters, relatives or chaperones located within 200 meters. It also includes a "pro" section for company employees. So two colleagues from the same sector can go home together in peace, without biting their fingers.

> Application available on App Store and Google Play.

5-Sekura

The story

This app against street harassment took root on Israeli soil in June 2020 in response to an ever-increasing demand for help. On their site, the founders set the tone and draw an alarming conclusion. "Street harassment and the feeling of being unsafe on the street limit women's mobility and access to public spaces. Globally, at least 75% of women aged 18 and over have been victims of 'a form of sexual harassment', one can read.

Operation

To access it, simply download it. Unlike some other tools Sekura does not require prior registration. When we click on the icon, four colored buttons stand in front of us. Purple simulates a false call, orange sends your location to three predefined contacts upstream, turquoise blue emits a powerful siren and activates your phone's flash, finally red automatically calls the emergency services or an emergency number .

At the forefront of innovation and concerned about the well-being of women, Sekura has also developed a card-shaped button. So you can communicate the dangerous and dark places you have been through. A way to create a quieter urban sphere. Thanks to this collection of data, the founders want to create a map archiving the places reported.

> Application available on App Store and Google Play.

6 - Hands Away

The story

Launched in October 2016, the HandsAway application, which literally means "hands off", has risen to the podium of inventive solutions to get out of street harassment. Alma Guiaro, the project manager herself was confronted with this terrible experience. Rebounded to knock out sexist behavior, the Parisian led a well-crafted fight. Through its HandsAway application, users from all walks of life can alert, testify and discuss. You can become a "Street Angel" and put on your hero costume to save people in danger.

Operation

In the same line as the other tools, it is based on geolocation. A small crossed out hand appears on the map when an attack is declared. Whether you are a victim or a witness, you have the opportunity to testify and describe the dramatic scenario you are facing. HandsAway also want to create an interactive map of landmarks to find help. Hospitals, police stations, specialized associations would be the figureheads.

> Application available on App Store and Google Play.

7 - Quivive-App

The story

This young shoot has made a sensational entry into the world of new technologies. Launched last January, Quivive-App stands out for its avant-garde features. Indeed, it records sound cycles of 20 minutes at any time. The sequence disappears and renews itself naturally, on the principle of a buffer memory. A major option that allows victims to have concrete evidence. Thanks to this unique mode, they feel more legitimate to start legal proceedings. The founder, Jean-Philippe Tible has also deployed this application hand in hand with several lawyers. It acts as a high-performance dictaphone and is automatically activated.

Operation

A woman being touched in the metro, a man being insulted on leaving work or a teenager being harassed in front of his school… when these nightmarish situations arise, all you have to do is ask the application to save the audio to keep track of the last 20 minutes recorded on the smartphone. If you are in your apartment or at your parents' house and you do not want to be wiretapped, you have the option of stopping Quivive-App.

> Application available on Google Play and soon on App Store.

8 - App-They

The story

Faced with the increase in domestic violence and the proliferation of sexual and sexist violence against women, the Résonantes association has stepped up to the plate. She released the App-Elles application, a discreet tool that allows victims to break the silence and leave this hell. In case of danger, the application warns three trusted people. To trigger the alert, you have three options: press the on/off button on the smartphone four times consecutively, unplug headphones from the jack or via a connected bracelet (surcharge).

Operation

It tells loved ones your GPS position and allows you to listen in real time to the potentially violent speech of the attacker, the surge of insults or, in the worst case, physical attacks. As soon as the alert ends, the information is systematically saved on both phones: the victim and the relatives. In the "Talk about it" section, you will have access to an international directory which lists a wide range of essential numbers. Behind the "Act" button hide valuable information. This anti-street harassment application is like a Swiss army knife 2.0.

> Application available on Google Play and App Store.

More shocking numbers

These brilliant and easy-to-use supports have become necessary defense weapons. According to an IFOP study, 8 out of 10 French women have already been confronted with at least one form of sexual assault in the street or on public transport during their lifetime. A gloomy observation that resonates like a cry from the heart. Trapped in this frightening bubble, the women impose barriers on themselves so as not to experience these bitter scenes. Nearly half of them have already changed their outfit for fear of being arrested or harassed.

In France, since August 3, 2018, street harassment is punishable by law and punishable by a fine of €90, or even €1,500 in the event of an aggravating circumstance. A measure deemed insufficient by the associations which point the finger at the lack of prevention. Recently, the hashtag #PrendsMaPlainte highlighted another flaw: that of reception at the police station. According to a survey conducted by the We All collective, 66% of women who filed a complaint were poorly received by the authorities.

New measures are emerging

To make up for this monstrous shambles, the government has made new announcements. In mid-April, Marlène Schiappa announced the establishment of an annual barometer on street harassment. The Minister Delegate for Citizenship also wishes to create "Quartiers sans relous". Strong ambitions that arise one year from the presidential elections. So political coup or real commitment? Fate will tell us soon...