Germany to Make Verbal Sexual Harassment a Crime by 2024
Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) has proposed a significant change in the law. She aims to make verbal sexual harassment a punishable offense, with the new legislation expected to come into force in 2024. This move is particularly important for the younger generation, who will benefit from the establishment of a new normality.
Currently, sexual harassment requires physical contact, and insults primarily protect honor rather than sexual autonomy. However, verbal sexual harassment, such as whistling, shouting inappropriate news, or open threats, can cause fear, shame, and loss of freedom for victims. These verbal advances carry an implicit threat of physical violence and are not compliments, but expressions of an imagined power dynamic. They have the same effects as insults, demeaning, intimidating, and undermining self-determination.
To address this, Hubig plans to clearly define verbal sexual harassment as a criminal offense. This will ensure that such behavior has real consequences, making it clear that demeaning behavior is unacceptable.
The proposed legislation aims to protect victims of verbal sexual harassment, who often face the same harmful effects as those experiencing physical harassment. By making these advances punishable, the law will help to establish a new normality, particularly for the younger generation, where such behavior is not tolerated.
