Overview

• Stefanie Hubig said a dedicated criminal provision is thinkable and confirmed her ministry has begun examining how to structure it in the coming months.
• She argued that women and girls are frequently harmed or intimidated by sexualized remarks in public spaces.
• Hubig acknowledged gray areas between awkward compliments and crimes but said violations are usually clear and the legal system can handle them without excess.
• SPD deputy Sonja Eichwede backed penalties, initially via fines, with the specifics to be set in a legislative process.
• The Netherlands criminalized public sexual harassment, including so‑called catcalling, in July 2024, while Hubig rejects the term as trivializing and prefers to name the conduct sexual harassment.