L’Oréal Paris in partnership with ABAAD Organization will roll out the Stand Up training program developed by international NGO Hollaback! to train people in Lebanon on bystander intervention to tackle street harassment.
For half a century, L’Oréal Paris has been relentless in its dedication to breaking down barriers. From pioneering science and innovations that empower women through beauty, to its diverse family of global Spokespeople, L’Oréal Paris continues to challenge stereotypes, and to foster women power to play active and equal roles in their societies.
A WORTHY CAUSE: STAND UP AGAINST STREET HARASSMENT
Because street harassment goes against everything L’Oréal Paris stands for, the brand launched the Stand Up Against Street Harassment program on March 8, 2020, in partnership with Hollaback!, an international NGO that aims to end harassment of all forms. Stand Up is focused on raising awareness about street harassment and training 1 million people by 2021 with Hollaback’s “5D’s” methodology, a program to learn safely how to respond when you are being victim or witness of street harassment.
Today, L’Oréal Paris has partnered up with ABAAD, a non-profit organization expert in protecting women against gender-based violence, to launch the training program in Lebanon, with the goal of training the biggest number of people across the country and help both men and women to safely intervene if they witness or experience street harassment.
“We are proud to partner with the ABAAD Organization to shed light and raise awareness on this important cause in Lebanon. L’Oréal Paris has always been committed to empowering women, and street harassment robs women of their dignity, sense of security and feelings of self-worth, which goes against everything L’Oréal Paris stands for. That’s why it’s so important for us to stand up and help to combat this issue that affects us all, said Emilie Wahab, General Manager, Consumer Products Division at L’Oréal Liban.
“We share a common mission with L’Oréal Paris to protect women, so our partnership is a natural fit. Together, we will give women the tools to respond to incidents of harassment – whether they are a victim or witness. Through this joint effort, we will strive to empower women to walk freely and confidently in all public spaces” Added Ghida Anani, Founder and Director of ABAAD Organization
STREET HARASSMENT IN PUBLIC SPACES: A PRIORITY ISSUE
Some figures drawn from across 15 countries among the world** indicate the global expansiveness of street harassment: 80% of women have experienced street harassment in a public space at least once in their lives**, with all respondents from all countries reporting a high level of exposure to these incidents (for e.g. 73% in the UAE, 80% in the UK, 94% in South Africa, 92% in Mexico, 85% in Thailand or 84% in Canada**). As per the survey conducted back in 2017 by UN Women, over 60% of women had been sexually harassed in public in Lebanon, many of them on their way to work.
STAND UP WITH US!
L’Oréal Paris and ABAAD organization encourage all men and women to join the movement by taking part in our digital training program standup-international.com and share about it on social networks, with a 5D’s hand sign and the hashtag #WeStandUp.
Become an Upstander today and help us to continue building safe and inclusive spaces for all!
*“International survey on sexual harassment in public spaces,” conducted by L’Oréal Paris with IPSOS, with data gathered in 14 countries with over 14,000 participants, Jan. 25th – Feb. 9th, 2021.