Bronze Statues All over Germany Set an Example against Violence towards Women

Two in three women experience sexual harassment in their lives. The "Unsilence the violence" campaign launched today by TERRE DES FEMMES draws attention to this alarming fact. The women's rights organisation is making a statement against sexual harassment at well-known female bronze statues in Munich, Berlin and Bremen, using a phenomenon that occurs frequently: these bronze statues are repeatedly touched on the breasts by passers-by. This leaves its mark - just as it does on victims of sexualised violence. However, affected women often remain silent out of fear of not being taken seriously or even being accused themselves. And far too often, society simply looks away.

Visible signs of the assaults 

The Enchanting Juliet in Munich, Mrs. Rhein at the Neptune Fountain in Berlin, and the youth at the Hoetgerhof in Bremen clearly show the decades of assaults by passers-by. All three statues feature an installation with the unmistakable message "Sexual harassment leaves its mark", which is intended to encourage the public to pause and reflect. "These three statues have a special symbolic power. Their breasts have been touched so many times that signs of usage are clearly visible. Every statue of a woman here visualises what happens to two thirds of women in Germany: Sexual harassment," said Sina Tonk, head of division at TERRE DES FEMMES. Via QR codes, passers-by can access short audio recordings that allow the statues to speak: they give affected women a voice. Sina Tonk explained,"Sexual harassment is a problem that is far too often trivialised or ignored. We must work together to ensure that those affected are heard and that perpetrators are held accountable." Those affected can also find information on contact points and counselling services on the campaign website.

TERRE DES FEMMES has been campaigning against human rights violations against girls and women, against gender-specific discrimination and in favour of women's rights for over 40 years. The campaign uses the hashtag #UnsilenceTheViolence and is part of a campaign by the creative agency Scholz & Friends. 

Marielle Wilsdorf, managing director at Scholz & Friends Hamburg said, "Sexual harassment is a massive invasion of privacy. The marks it leaves behind are visible on the statues, but not on the victims. It's not a trivial matter, it's a criminal offence. Let's stop looking away and break the silence together."