Cologne Mayor Blames the Victims

Cologne Mayor Blames the Victims

The mayor of Cologne, Germany suggested generated controversy this week by saying that women can protect themselves against sexual assault by keeping men at an arm's length away. Mayor Henriette Reker made the comments in the wake of police detailing over 90 complaints of robbery and sexual assault—including two instances of rape—near a local train station on New Year's Eve. “It is always possible to keep a certain distance that is longer than an arm’s length,” Reker said. Critics have lambasted the mayor for putting the onus on the victims to avoid sexual assault.