Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - Toshshahartranskhizmat is launching a campaign to raise awareness on the prevention of harassment in public transport.

The problem of harassment in public transport, including frotteurism, has always existed, but it was not accepted to talk about it openly, which led to a number of other problems:

• lack of information campaigns and other measures to prevent harassment in public transport;

• inability to behave correctly in cases of collision with harassment and harassment in public transport;

• lack of mechanisms for seeking help in cases of collision with harassment and harassment in public transport;

• misperception of the situation by victims of harassment, fear of being judged in the eyes of society because of prejudice - “it’s my own fault”;

According to the website Nemolchi.uz, in August 2021, a public opinion poll was conducted on harassment in public transport using a random sample among the population of different ages in Tashkent in Uzbek and Russian.

The results of the survey, which involved about 100 people, 77.5% of whom were women and 22.5% were men, showed that:

12.5% of the respondents were often harassed in public transport;

40% have been harassed on public transport once or twice.

The results also showed that 60% of the respondents experienced harassment in public transport.

When asked “do you know how to act in case of harassment in public transport?” 51% of the respondents answered that they do not know.

When asked about the reasons why victims do not seek help, the following responses were received:

do not know how to behave - 49%;

do not believe in the punishment of the culprit - 22%;

feelings of guilt and shame - 19.5%;

fear of the culprit - 8.5%.

87% of respondents consider this problem urgent.

93% of respondents are not aware of any measures / activities aimed at preventing or countering harassment in public transport.

One type of harassment on public transport is frotteurism.

Frotteurism is a disorder when a person (most often a man) rubs against his victim and tries to touch through clothing in crowded places, most often on public transport. As a rule, women and children become victims of this kind of harassment.

According to the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, our honor and dignity are protected and the following punishments are provided for humiliation:

Article 41 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility, intentional humiliation of the honor and dignity of the person, envisages a fine of 20 to 40 minimum wages. Responsibility for unintentional insult is provided for in Chapter II of the Administrative Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

According to Article 140 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan, an insult, that is, deliberate humiliation of the honor and dignity of a person in an indecent form, committed after the application of an administrative penalty for the same actions is punishable by a fine of up to 200 BRV or compulsory community service up to 240 hours or correctional labor up to one year.

25 November - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. To this day, the launch of tickets of a new type, with an inscription on the inadmissibility of harassment, is timed. The ticket also informs that victims of harassment should contact the conductor for help.

In addition, the emergency call button in the buses of Tashkent is being activated.

The campaign also calls on the public not to be indifferent and to intercede if they witness harassment on public transport.