For many of us, deciding to take a leisurely walk in the park or along the beach front does not require a second thought; however for many women in Africa, this simple act can be life threatening.

The concept of Harrasmap sprung to life in Cairo, Egypt due to the increasing number of women being sexually harassed there, whether by whistling, leering or groping.  The main aim of this new website, which is set to launch in the coming months, is to inform women all over the country of incidents where acts of harassment took place. This idea bears close resemblance to a site called Hollaback, which launched in numerous cities around the world, and gives women the opportunity to write about instances where they felt violated and abused.

Women can send their reports via text message or Twitter to Harrasmap, and this information will be used to generate an online map that will indicate all the dangerous hotspots that women should steer clear of, especially when walking alone. According to Engy Ghozlan, a volunteering activist, “The whole idea is to have user-generated information and to use that information and to share it amongst the police, activists and the media.”

Azza Sulieman, Centre for Egyptian Woman’s Legal Assistance’s director, points out that the idea will be useful, but it might inadvertently exclude the illiterate and less tech-savvy women.  A site like this would face similar barriers to entry in South Africa, however with the rise of mobile internet users it may well be an effective way to curb and prevent sexual harassment.  What are your thoughts?

Sources: news24.com; switched.com. Image source: projectsmileindia.wordpress.com