88 pct of Brussels women experience some form of sexual harassment: report

BRUSSELS, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Eighty-eight percent of women over the age of 15 in Brussels have been victims of sexual intimidation, Belgian press reported Tuesday.

The findings were published in a survey conducted by the University of Ghent, in Belgium including interviews with over 425 women.

"What is even more striking in this survey is that 30 percent of women said they still suffer today and that it forces them to adapt their habits or behaviors," Brussels Secretary of State in charge of Equal Opportunities Bianca Debaets said.

Debaets said she aimed to deploy "women bait" to fight against street harassment. "By allowing female police officers to cross certain neighborhoods, we could really fight the perpetrators of these crimes," she said.

The phenomenon of sexual harassment reached all corners of society, both in professional settings and public space. According to the survey, 57 percent of women believe that harassment on public transport is a common phenomenon, reports newspaper sudinfo. Enditem