She emphasized the importance of fostering societal awareness that such verbal harassment is simply unacceptable and deserves strong social disapproval
While acknowledging that catcalling is “disrespectful, hurtful and intolerable” Hierl clarified that such actions are not currently prosecutable offenses unless they constitute criminal insult She argued that creating new criminal statutes with practically unenforceable and uncontrollable boundaries would generate uncertainty rather than greater legal clarity
The SPD parliamentary group had previously called for the criminalization of verbal sexual harassment, citing a legal gap that needs to be addressed Sonja Eichwede, deputy parliamentary group leader, stated that such behaviour is intolerable and advocated for a new criminal offense specifically targeting “catcalling” describing it as targeted, significant verbal sexual harassment
