Though international attention towards sexual harassment is more prevalent than ever, it’s still an ongoing problem — but it’s heartening to see that the topic is being openly spoken about, especially with the #MeToo movement galvanizing people to take a stand against further harassment.
And it seems to be working. Five women were rewarded the Singapore Police Force’s Public Spiritedness Award today, for having helped a woman who was being followed by an unknown man following her on the street.
On March 22, Anthea Julia Chua, Cheong Pei Lin Debbi, Koh Huishan Deborah, Hemaa Shruthi Sekar and Ng Rui Ashlynna were walking along Kim Pong Road when a woman approached them, informing them that a man had just performed an obscene act in her presence, and was still following her.
Together with the victim, the group of friends were able to locate the man, call the police, and prevent the perpetrator from fleeing the scene until authorities arrived. Speaking to the local media at the award ceremony, the women explained that they had devised a plan to stall the man by pretending to ask him for directions.
Hemaa told Today Online that she wasn’t really afraid because she was surrounded by her friends, and she wanted to seek justice for the victim.
She added in the same interview: “The more we saw him run, the more we wanted to catch him.”
The man was arrested for public nuisance and undergoing investigation by the authorities.
The five women demonstrate just how important and empowering it is to take a stand when you see something unacceptable going on. Nobody knows what would have happened if different people had crossed the victim’s path and decided not to respond to her cries for help. But thankfully, she was surrounded by individuals who cared, and was made to feel instantly safer and protected.
Hats off to you, ladies.
