How to feel safe in your community

Harassment and vilence against women happens on streets, in and around public transportation, schools, workplaces, public toilets, water and food distribution sites, and parks. This reality reduces women’s and girls’ freedom of movement. It reduces their ability to participate in school, work, and public life. It limits their access to essential services and their enjoyment of cultural and recreational activities, and negatively impacts their health and well-being.

Ensuring that women feel safe in their own communities involves a multi-faceted approach, focusing on empowerment, support systems, and community engagement. Here are several strategies that can contribute to this goal:

Community Awareness Programmes

Educating the community about gender-based violence, consent, and respect is crucial. Workshops and campaigns can raise awareness and create a culture of zero tolerance toward harassment and violence against women. 

Improved Reporting Mechanisms

Establishing accessible and supportive avenues for reporting incidents of harassment or violence is essential. Women should feel confident that their concerns will be taken seriously, and that there will be appropriate responses from law enforcement and local authorities.

Safe Spaces

Creating safe spaces allows women to gather freely without fear of judgment or harassment. These spaces can be physical locations, like women centres or virtual environments that foster support and connection.

Active Bystander Training

Active bystander training teaches people how to intervene safely in situations of harassment, discrimination, and violence. The goal is to create safer communities by empowering people to speak up and challenge harmful behaviors.

VAWG prevention programmes

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) prevention programs are initiatives that address the underlying causes of violence, including social, economic and cultural factors. These programs aim to stop violence before it happens. Prevention programs are important because they help to reduce the risk of VAWG for the entire population. This is especially important given the widespread prevalence of VAWG.

Policing and Community Safety Partnerships

Encouraging collaboration between community members and law enforcement can improve trust and safety. Community policing initiatives that involve local residents can help address issues proactively and ensure that women's voices are heard. An example of community policing are the Policing and Community Safety Partnerships in each council.

Support Services

Providing access to counselling, helplines, and shelters for women in distress is vital. Knowing there are available resources can help women feel more secure in their communities.

Inclusive Urban and Rural Planning

Designing public spaces that prioritize safety can make a significant difference. Well-lit pathways, visible public areas, and community engagement in planning can enhance feelings of safety for women.

Feminist urbanism can be defined as the aspects of urban design and planning which are: “Developed as a reaction to traditional planning processes that were shaped by patriarchal values, with an intention to facilitate equitable access to the benefits and opportunities” (Dutton et al., 2022).

In essence, feminist urbanism is creating a feminist approach to urban planning with the aim of creating environments that are safe, accessible, and open to everyone equally.

International Rural Women’s Day calls for governments and civil society to implement measures that could improve rural women's lives, including the ones in indigenous communities in UN General Assembly resolution 62/136.

Promoting Female Leadership

Encouraging women to take on leadership roles within the community can lead to more inclusive decision-making processes. Representation matters and can help address the specific needs and concerns of women.

Building Solidarity Networks

Empowering women to form support networks can foster a sense of community. These networks provide opportunities for shared experiences, resources, and mutual aid. By adopting a comprehensive approach that involves education, support, community engagement, and systemic change, women can cultivate a greater sense of safety and empowerment in their communities.