Cologne moves to criminalize catcalling as first German city
Cologne could become the first German city to allow its public order office to take action against catcalling. The Equality Committee of Cologne City Council has asked the administration to explore this possibility. A motion from several political groups has set the process in motion. The motion was submitted by the Greens, SPD, the Left Party, Volt, and the joint faction of the FDP and Cologne Civic Society. The committee wants the administration to check if current laws permit action against catcalling. It has also requested a concrete regulatory proposal by the third quarter to amend the city ordinance.
Volt city councillor Jasna Ibrić shared a recent personal experience. She described feeling uncomfortable due to a sexualised gaze on the subway. Meanwhile, at the federal level, Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig has announced plans to introduce a bill before the summer recess. This bill would criminalise severe verbal outbursts with a strong sexual connotation but would not cover non-verbal gestures.
The committee estimates that training public order staff to handle sexual harassment in public spaces could cost around €50,000. If adopted, the proposal would make Cologne the first city in Germany to empower its public order office to act against catcalling. The administration will now develop a regulatory plan to change the city ordinance. The federal bill, if passed, would address only verbal harassment with explicit sexual content.
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