CAIRO, Oct 5 (Aswat Masriya) - The first day of Eid al-Adha holiday has witnessed a decline in sexual harassment incidents, "Shoft Taharosh" (I Saw Harrasment) initiative said Sunday, adding that the reported incidents were of verbal harassment only.

"I Saw Harassment", a local initiative launched in 2013 to counter sexual harassment and abuse, announced Thursday it would be active during Eid al-Adha holiday in Cairo and Kafr el-Sheikh governorates.

The initiative cited intensified security measures and the low numbers of citizens occupying public places and parks, particularly the areas of Downtown Cairo and Talaat Harb Square, as reasons for reduced sexual harassment.

The reported decline is not an indicator of lower sexual harassment crime rates or deterred predators, however, it reinforces the role of security presence in the capital's centre in reducing crimes, the initiative added.

Nevertheless, presence of security forces has not thwarted harassment incidents from taking place, not only in Cairo, but in other governorates as well.

Egypt's National Council for Women (NCW) had launched Thursday a hotline for receiving harassment reports from women during Eid al-Adha holiday.

Complaints could be placed using the hotline number - 08008883888 - from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the holiday.

NCW would cooperate with the unit of combating violence against women at the ministry of interior to ensure swift intervention in cases of harassment, Head of the council Mervat Talawi said.

Security measures will be stepped up during Eid to arrest sexual harassers, and the NCW shall provide legal assistance to women who file lawsuits against their predators, Talawi added.

Holiday seasons in Egypt have become associated with a peak in sexual violence and mass incidents of harassment and rape.

A study by UN Women in 2013 found that 99.3 percent of Egyptian women and girls reported having been subjected to verbal or physical harassment.