Our Story
It began with a conversation
Back in 2019, two sisters - Gemma and Maya, ages just 15 and 21 - shared with each other how they experienced the world as young women. They spoke about feeling afraid walking home at night. About being harassed in their school uniform. About how their lives were restricted by the fear of public sexual harassment. And about how this was an everyday reality for millions of women, girls and people of marginalised genders up and down the country.
It led to a movement.
They began a petition to make public sexual harassment a criminal offence. Within 100 days, that petition had over 100,000 signatures. It now sits at almost half a million. It caught the attention of local media, then national media, then policymakers at the heart of government. And, in 2023, the five year campaign to make PSH a crime was a success.
Read more about our stances here.
“The bill is a good starting point, and a step in the right direction, but there is still more work to be done. Legal change alone will not end this problem - we also need cultural change across the UK, which is why we are working with councils, schools, universities and sports professionals to raise awareness of PSH, educate young people on its impact and ultimately work towards prevention. Justice is important, but prevention is paramount”
Where we are now
Since its inception, we have grown beyond two people into an organisation affecting high impact change on public sexual harassment. We educate on the causes, impacts and solutions to harassment, drive community action through impactful awareness campaigns and advocate for stronger policies and laws. Our current pillars of work are schools, high streets, universities and sports.
As an organisation our aim will always be to end public sexual harassment and to do this we work collectively, find out more about our team here.
“I’ve never been more proud to work with such an amazing group of volunteers. Everyone has such passion for the cause and such a wish to continue learning.
I feel like we’re always reflecting on how we can improve, grow and do our best to be part of ending public sexual harassment”
What we’ve achieved so far
Our Streets Now #CrimeNotCompliment Campaign, wins the SMK Young Campaigner Award (2024)
Georgia Theodoulou wins the UN Women ‘Safer Spaces Award’ (2023)
The Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Bill passed (2023)
Streetworthy Youth Campaign Begins (2022)
Our Streets Now began work in Swindon (2022)
Our Streets Now began delivering programmes in schools (2022)
#CrimeNotCompliment Campaign and Collaboration with PlanUK (2021)
Higher Education & Our Schools Now Campaigns Launch (2021)
Maya & Gemma start Our Streets Now!