Every great innovation comes from a place of seeing a need, and then filling that need, that is the story of how the Harassment & Assault Reporting Platform (H.AR.P) came to be. Harassment and assault is a global issue, and the quarantine has only worsened situations for folks who were already enduring abusive conditions. This is inclusive of police brutality as we have seen with Kenya’s numerous protests and Nigeria’s #EndSarsNow demands for the dismantling of the oppressive policing systems. We as folks in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) sectors have a significant role in shaping of the built environment as we continually make changes to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our systems. H.A.R.P is a one-stop-shop reporting platform that aims to gather more contextual data, while increasing education and awareness regarding harassment and assault related incidents world-wide.
Although studies show that both men and women can be victims as well as perpetrators of abuse, women are more likely to get harassed and assaulted while navigating society .
Several African countries have reported spikes in street harassment, underage pregnancies, as well as police brutality -in relation to the quarantine enforcement. Rwanda, Kenya, and Nigeria have experienced major social pushbacks against aggressive police who perpetuate abuse in the communities they are to be in service of -in the form of street and transit harassment, extortion, intimidation, bullying tactics, and even homicide, among many other unwelcomed interactions with the general public. The anatomy of police brutality and many abuse incidents that occur in public-spaces typically involve; street harassment, transit harassment, workplace harassment, bulling and many other trauma-inducing experiences.
Who can you rely on for accountability and documentation of police misconduct when you do not trust the police to hold themselves accountable? You HARPit!
Platform users can submit a harassment/assault, or a police brutality related incident via the HARPit Buttons. These reports can be submitted by witnesses or survivors of these abusive encounters with other civilians as well as law enforcement. In addition, H.A.R.P has user surveys that are intended reflect the overall sentiments regarding harassment/assault and police brutality across the global community. The ease-of-use and accessibility is a key feature that allows folks to submit reports on the various forms of abuse incidents from the comfort of their safe-spaces, or while navigating public spaces. Users can report from anywhere, as long as they have internet access. Given the level of investments various organization are directing towards the African continent, for more reliable internet connectivity, reporting will be a breeze from even the most remote regions.
This technology is especially helpful in this quarantine season given that in-person interactions are highly discouraged. Via this reporting tool, H.A.R.P endeavors to gather data that is more contextually reflective of the various types of harassment and assault incidents occurring globally. Your participation in this effort is essential if we are to move closer to a world with zero abuse incidents. While most people may assume abuse is strictly a social- issue, technology plays a significant role in data collection, incident response, visualization of global trends, and even after-care-services such as mental health assistance. So the next time you witness or experience harassment or assault, be sure to HARP it, and be a part of the movement for a safer global community -one without harassment or assault. #HARPitNOW
