NEW POSTERS PLACED around Dublin are forming part of an initiative from the city council to raise awareness of the sexual harassment that takes place on the capital’s streets.

The posters – which bear the message “a sexist remark is not a compliment” – have been put up by Dublin City Council as part of its Safe City programme.

A spokesperson said that a study from the council found that “sexual harassment is a frequent and distressing occurrence for women and girls in Dublin city”.

The council joined the UN Women Safe Cities Global Programme in 2013, as one of 20 cities aiming to prevent and reduce sexual harassment against women and girls.

“The decision to join the global initiative was taken not because Dublin is an unsafe city but because the city wants to share and learn from knowledge in other cities,” the spokesperson said.

Due to its inclusion in the project, Dublin City Council commissioned a study to establish the “levels of pervasiveness of harassment and violence in the city”.

This focused on the specific areas between Heuston Station to Abbey Street.

This study informed the programme rolled out by the council which includes the posters placed around the city.

Also included in this programme are plans to roll out educational programmes for the public and service providers, in particular the gardaí, which “clearly defin[es] what constitues sexual harassment and other forms of sexual violence in public space”.

“These programmes should address underlying causes, the harmful effects of sexual violence in public space, and how to seek help when required,” the report said.

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