The issue of women's safety in the city has come on to the agenda quite centrally, particularly in the light of several cases which have highlighted the gaps that exist in policing and service delivery. What constitutes safety? Is it merely freedom from crime and violence? Or does it encompass a wider notion of a right to safety, or right to the city which not only includes freedom from crime and violence but also from fear.  Further, the notion of a right carries with it the need to create appropriate conditions to realise the right.  It is therefore important to recognise that violence and the fear of violence prevent women from being able to access their right to the city. They are often fearful of going to certain places, at certain times and restrict their own movements in order to avoid the possibility of violence.  This can have the effect of preventing girls from going to schools which are located at a distance, or prevent women from accessing occupations where they need to be out at different times.

Research from around the world has highlighted this concern.  Women and girls experience physical and sexual violence from strangers and acquaintances – in the form of touching, staring, catcalling, intimidating, stalking and other forms of harassment, as well as rape and other physical assaults. In a 2010 survey conducted by UN Women, Jagori and the Delhi Department of Women and Child Development with 5000 respondents, almost two out of three women reported experiencing sexual harassment two to five times over the previous year.  In Mumbai, a study conducted by Akshara with Hindustan Times with 5000 people  in 2012 revealed that 95% of the women respondents had faced sexual harassment or assault.  In a study conducted in Canada in 2000 of 12,000 women, 80 per cent stated that they had experienced harassment in public places.  A 2008 survey in Egypt conducted with 2000 women also showed similar results with 50 per cent women reporting incidents of sexual harassment daily. 

All this data and the efforts of women's movements around the world have led to an understanding that this is an issue that needs to be taken seriously. In practice, strategies addressing  women’s safety focus on what can be done at the community and local level to increase their safety, and on the responsibilities of the police,  city governments and other stakeholders to take action, rather than blaming individual women. This has led to several interesting initiatives around the world including community policing, addressing public transport, improved policing, engaging with youth and men  and creating better support services for women and girls.  We know that there are no easy solutions and quick fixes but that different groups of people need to engage with the issue in order to find a holistic solution. Often when we think of addressing sexual assault or harassment, we think of better policing. While this is very necessary, it is not the only solution.

Addressing women's safety involves a range of preventive strategies including working with communities, youth, schools and with local governments and municipalities to provide better infrastructure and services. In Delhi for example, one initiative has involved gender sensitisation of bus drivers and conductors to sexual harassment. In Rosario Argentina, art has been as a medium of sensitisation through murals in different parts of the city created with local communities. (as seen in the photograph)  In Canada, a service has been introduced to stop buses in between  designated bus stops after dark. In Dar es Salaam (like many places), gender desks have been set up at all police stations to help women who come to police stations. Similar initiatives to address infrastructure, public transport and policing exist in many countries. One of the key areas for interventions that has emerged is working with youth and men to raise awareness and create new role models.