Petition · past parliament

Make street sexual harassment of women and girls a criminal offence.

Rejected 21 signatures

What the petition asks

Make street sexual harassment illegal, including, but not limited to:
1. Catcalling
2. Sexual comments
3. Following a woman with intent to harass
4. Unsolicited physical contact
This should be criminalised, with increased severity when underaged girls are involved.
Actions such as the aforementioned induce severe anxiety and fear for a woman upon so much as leaving home; at any point, they may be approached by a man making unsolicited sexual advances, whether they be through verbal or physical means. Disturbingly, young girls, often in school uniforms, are harassed. This is blatant paedophilia, with no repercussions whatsoever. Until some action is taken to punish those who conduct such actions, women and girls are perpetually afraid and unsafe.

Why it was rejected

There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.

You may wish to sign this petition calling for the same action: Make sexual harassment a specific criminal offence

Timeline

15 Mar 2021 Petition opened for signatures
22 Mar 2021 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 21
Status Rejected
Rejected 22 Mar 2021

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.