Establishing with women and girls safe and empowered public places

 Every country in the globe experiences sexual harassment and various types of sexual assault against women and girls on a daily basis in public places, both urban and rural.

In public areas, women and girls encounter and dread many types of sexual assault ranging from unwanted sexual remarks and gestures to rape and femicide. It takes occurs in public spaces, on streets, in and around transit, at businesses, schools, public restrooms, locations where food and drink are distributed, and in parks.

The freedom of mobility for women and girls is diminished by this fact. It limits their capacity to engage in public life, the workplace, and education. It has a detrimental effect on their health and well-being, restricts their access to necessary services, and keeps them from participating in cultural and recreational events.

Our remedies

Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces for Women and Girls, a global initiative by UN Women, has been working with top women's organisations, state and local governments, UN agencies, and other partners for ten years to develop, implement, and assess all-encompassing strategies to stop and address sexual harassment of women and girls in public spaces in various contexts.

This multi-stakeholder worldwide programme, which started in the cities of Quito, Ecuador; Cairo, Egypt; New Delhi, India; Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; and Kigali, Rwanda, has expanded to encompass 50 cities and is still producing excellent outcomes with its partners.

For instance, the programme has improved comfort, safety, and hygiene for women and girls working in marketplaces and when using public transportation in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.