Street harassment is nothing new in Peru, a country in which catcalls and whistles aimed at women in the street -- and on public transport -- are common. These comments can range from seemingly inoffensive remarks to crude shouts accompanied by physical gestures.

Either way, the female recipients are rarely flattered by the attention, often feeling highly uncomfortable or even scared. In 2012, a survey revealed that 70 percent of women feel unsafe walking in the streets of Lima.

More recently, women’s rights group Manuela Ramos found that 88.4 percent of all women in Lima reported having been victims of street harassment.

For some, these comments and catcalls -- commonly known as piropos in Peru, or more formally as acoso sexual callejero (sexual street harassment) -- are exacerbated by the general outlook of the male population. According to Elizabeth Vallejo of the PUCP Social Sciences Academic Department (and coordinator of the Stop Street Harassment Observatory):

“The causes of the normalization and acceptance of these behaviors are many, but are all related to the same root: a macho culture that values male aggressiveness, and that rather than highlighting the behavior of these men, lays the blame on the women.”

Peru, of course, is not the only country in which street harassment is an ongoing problem. As can be seen from this list of anti-harassment groups and campaigns at www.stopstreetharassment.org, this is very much a global issue, with Peru’s own Paremos el Acoso Sexual Callejero joined by many more groups from across North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

And back in Peru, there are signs that street harassment is starting to be taken more seriously at the highest levels. In August 2014, newly appointed Prime Minister, Ana Jara, announced a new bill that would seek to amend the Peruvian Criminal Code in order to make street harassment a crime. In March 2015, the Congress of Peru passed the bill. Offenders now face up do 12 years in prison for aggressive street harassment.

But even with the new laws punishing street harassment in Peru, it remains to be seen how seriously it will be taken and how well it will be enforced.

Foreign Tourists and Street Harassment in Peru

Foreign female tourists in Peru are likely to receive male attention -- unwanted or otherwise -- while walking in the streets. Women with light skin and blonde hair tend to attract the most comments.

Most of these comments are fairly tame in terms of their content: hola bonita; hola preciosa; cómo te llamas? etc. But there are times when the catcalls take a more obviously sexual nature.

Typically, street harassment is purely vocal, infantile and not -- at least in the harasser’s eyes -- aggressive. There are various ways to deal with street harassers, ranging from direct responses to ignoring them completely. You can read more about dealing with harassers at www.stopstreetharassment.org.

If a situation escalates and a harasser becomes aggressive or begins to follow you, look for a nearby police officer (ideally a member of the tourist police) or enter a respectable-looking store or other public space (such as a bank or pharmacy) and ask for help.