Using research to guide interventions for women’s safety

New Delhi - Crucial recommendations to improve women’s safety have been developed based on the findings of a survey about women’s safety in New Delhi. These activities are part of a three-year joint project by Jagori, Government of Delhi, UN Women and UN Habitat, Nairobi: The Safe Cities Free of Violence for Women and Girls.

Urban planning was the centre-point of most of these suggestions. “Urban planning can help in developing public spaces that are safer for women. Better maintenance of infrastructure can also improve women’s mobility and safety and deter perpetrators. For example, better lighting, walk-able pavements are important steps,” said Anne F. Stenhammer, Regional Programme Director, UN Women South Asia

Public transport needs to be made safer by installing CCTV cameras, and increased monitoring. Helplines for passengers, immediate responses by the crew and a system in cases of distress within the buses will reduce crime against women.

“Training of transport crew to respond and support victims is essential. Jagori has undertaken training of more than 3600 DTC crew in 2007 and recently of 50 DTC Instructors, with the aim of reaching out extensively to thousands of the DTC staff,” said Suneeta Dhar, Jagori.

Other recommendations include :

• Civic awareness and educational campaigns to build an understanding of women’s safety concerns.
• Focus on the youth and students
• Improve trust in the police and improve assistance and support.
• Effective implementation of legislations and speedy access to justice and support to victims/survivors.

Government agencies, police personnel, civil society organizations, men’s groups, legal and human rights groups, and other urban organizations have been consulted to develop this framework. These recommendations are expected to feed into planning for safer infrastructure, mechanisms and programming in Delhi.

After approximately a year of trialing the safe cities programme, a baseline survey of the results to date were conducted. From the findings in the baseline survey, the programme partners developed a strategic framework for the safe cities programme. Both the baseline survey and the strategic framework can be accessed.