Women's rights organization Terre des Femmes has put up large placards at three bronze statues of nude women in Germany whose breasts are visibly brighter as a result of frequently being touched to highlight how "sexual harassment leaves its mark."
White placards with the slogan were put up behind the Juliet Capulet statue at Munich's Marienplatz, "The Youth" statue in the Hoetgerhof in Bremen, and in front of the "Mrs. Rhine" statue that is part of the Neptune Fountain in central Berlin, a spokeswomen for Terre des Femmes said on Monday.
Photos of the installations show that the nude women's breasts have a much brighter sheen than the rest of the statue, a clear result of "where they are touched most often," according to the organization.
The three statues "visibly show the decades of assaults by passers-by," Terre des Femmes said. The act leaves its mark - "just as it does for those affected by sexualised violence."
"Sexual harassment is a problem that is far too often trivialized or ignored," Sina Tonk of Terre des Femmes was quoted in the press release. "We must work together to ensure that those affected are heard and that perpetrators are held accountable."
The placards, which were set up on Friday, are to be removed again on Monday afternoon due permit issues, according to the spokeswoman.
According to Terre des Femmes Germany, two out of three women are affected by sexual harassment in their lives.
