Eighty three percent of Egyptian women have been subjected to one form of harassement or another, according to the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights’ survey, which included over one million Egyptian women in 2008. Half of the women surveyed reported being exposed to harassment on daily basis.

We can only imagine the situation getting worse since then.

Sexual harassment has become the nightmare of every girl, woman and even old lady out on the street. Men are slightly freaking out too, resulting in a series of “don’t go out after 5pm,” “don’t drive your car alone at night,” “don’t go anywhere near Tahrir or a protest,” and the endless arguments we are sure most households in Egypt are currently facing.

And god knows if we hear one more “she brought it onto herself,” or “she shouldn’t have been there to begin with,” comment, all hell will break loose.

Sexual harassment has been proved to happen almost anywhere, any time and to anyone, even to the most conservatively dressed.

Michael Wurche, senior security consultant of the German Global Risk Control Company, Result Group Munich and advisor to the German Arab Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, where he holds security seminars, asserts that sexual harassment has nothing to do with the woman’s dress or eroticism. “It only has to do with men’s desire to exercise power and humiliation,” he explains, and so nothing the woman can wear would make her avoid harassments.

Even though we believe that the issue should be solved from the roots, making legilastions implementable and taking serious legal action, against the harasser, in your everyday life.

Wurche shares with us his tips on how to handle potentially dangerous situations.

Reacting to Sexual Harassment:

1. Do not get into a taxi with other passengers and do not allow him to pick up other passengers on the way.
2. Avoid parking lots where aggressors can use the opportunity of an empty, shielded building.
3. Walk confidently, swiftly, energetically, firmly and with a sense of purpose, keeping an upright posture so you don’t give off victim vibes. Women tend to make themselves smaller than they are and talk in a low and soft voice, insinuating that they are helpless, which gives off victim vibes. Maintaining a strong posture may intimidate the harasser.
4. React firmly and immediately, but do not ridicule the attacker. Studies show that most aggressors do not expect resistance from their victims, the aggressors are taken by surprise at any resistance or self-defense from the woman’s part. Women are often ashamed of men’s behavior and do not dare call their attention, but embarrassing them by pointing out the behavior in a loud voice that people around you could hear, might fend them off. So shout at them immediately, while looking them in the eyes with confidence, or pointing out loudly how this is haram (religiously wrong). Ridiculing the attacker, however, may cause further aggression.
5. Attract attention: If you feel that you are in danger, or someone starts to harass you, shout loudly “harasser,” or call attention to the situation. If you’re in the car and you feel danger, hunk your horn continuously. Use anything to grab passersby attention to the situation, even if they don’t help, the harasser will be intimidated. 
6. If you can’t stop him, flee into the closest shop and loudly ask for help.
7. Address a family with a younger man and kids, he will most likely want to show he’s a protector of the weak and helpless in front of his family and he wouldn’t be a threat if he is in his family’s company.
8. Take your instinct seriously and follow it. If you feel uncomfortable about a location or a situation, leave immediately. Intuition is the ability to judge without being conscious of the information this judgment is based on, so pay attention to your body signals (prickling in the stomach, heartbeat acceleration and any other similar physical reactions to danger).
9. Use defense tools carefully. If you have a gun and you aren’t experienced in using it, it could easily backfire and make the situation escalate to a life or death scenario; the aggressor might have a stronger weapon, he could also be accompanied by others you can’t see, or might even snatch yours. Self-defense tools like pepper sprays and electric Tasers are useful in certain situations, but be careful when using pepper spray, which is effective up to six meters, against the wind.
10. Keep a pin or needle handy: A simple but effective tool is a pin hidden somewhere accessible in your clothes, like your collar, for instance. At the right distance, if attacked, stab in vital areas, like his face or genitals, it would give you enough time to escape and scream for help.

Finally, Wurche believes there is no right or wrong way to respond to an attack, each situation is different and you need to decide whether it is best to fight or flight according to the situation. He argues that resistance in certain situations is useless and dangerous, like gang attacks or when there is a weapon involved. So follow your instinct and react accordingly.

Editor’s Note: NGO HarassMap believes there is no set of tips on how to react to these situations as each one is different, read our interview with the HarassMap team for their insight on sexual harassment in Egypt.