Title: Young Women Fight Back Against Discrimination in Public Transportation
Subtitle: Lawsuits Filed Against Bus Companies and Drivers Alleging Exclusion and Harassment
In recent weeks, a growing number of incidents involving the exclusion of women in public transportation have come to light. Fueled by these instances of discrimination, more and more young women are taking a stand and fighting against this phenomenon, even resorting to legal action. One such case involves a 14-year-old girl who recently shared her experience of being asked by an Egged bus driver in Haifa to cover herself.
The incident occurred three months ago when the teenager boarded an Egged bus on route 76, heading towards the Grand Canyon in Haifa. According to her account, the driver not only asked her to cover up but also threatened her with a report from an inspector for inappropriate clothing. Fortunately, a fellow passenger came to her aid and confronted the driver, admonishing him for his behavior.
Expressing her humiliation, the 14-year-old stated that the entire bus turned their eyes towards her, making the incident even more embarrassing. As a result, she now avoids traveling by bus and, if she must, only boards from the back door to avoid further confrontation. Outraged by the incident, the girl’s family has decided to file a lawsuit against Egged and the driver, seeking compensation of approximately NIS 270,000.
Karen Martz, the lawyer representing the girl, highlighted the various offenses committed in this incident, including sexual harassment, discrimination, infringement of dignity, and defamation of character. Despite the driver admitting to his inappropriate remarks, Egged allegedly refused to compensate the girl, leading to the lawsuit.
This case joins a wave of similar incidents involving young women being victimized on public transportation. Hila Peleg, for instance, recently filed a lawsuit against the Electra Afikim company, claiming that a bus driver in Ashdod refused to let her board simply because she is a woman. Furthermore, another incident occurred last week, where 15-year-old girls were asked to sit in the back and cover up. In response, their families have decided to sue the operating company, Netiv Express.
Attorney Einat Fischer Lalou, CEO of the Women’s Lobby, emphasized the need to hold transportation companies accountable and ensure enforcement and prevention measures are taken to eradicate such discriminatory behavior.
In response to the allegations, Egged stated that they conducted a thorough investigation after receiving the complaint and conveyed the findings to the complainant through her attorney. The company also acknowledged the recently filed lawsuit and assured that it will be addressed in court.
As more women come forward with their stories of exclusion and discrimination in public transportation, it is evident that a collective effort is required to bring about lasting change. By demanding accountability and imposing heavy penalties, society aims to force transportation companies into action, ensuring the safety and equality of all passengers.