Women’s safety refers to the measures and conditions in place to ensure the protection and security of women from various forms of harm, including physical violence, sexual assault, harassment, discrimination, and emotional abuse. It involves creating environments where women feel safe and empowered to navigate public spaces, workplaces, homes, and communities without fear of harm or intimidation.
A woman’s sense of safety while using her preferred and chosen means of transport is crucial for her to be able to work, access public spaces, and travel for education purposes, leisure, or, most importantly, emergencies.
Youth Ki Awaaz and the Observer Research Foundation conducted a survey titled “Women on the move: The impact of safety concerns on women’s mobility” over 10 months before and during the pandemic, with participation from 4,262 women across 140 Indian cities. The survey was primarily conducted to understand Indian women’s experiences better using public transport and the impact of safety concerns on their mobility choices.
The survey reveals that 90% of women feel unsafe while traveling past 8 pm
The survey reveals a stark reality that a staggering 90% of women feel unsafe while traveling, which is indeed shocking and saddening. This sentiment is further highlighted by the fact that over 80% of respondents, regardless of their living status, feel that the time of day significantly affects their use of public transport, with a preference for traveling during daylight hours (9 am to 5 pm) when they feel safer. However, even during these peak hours, safety concerns persist, indicating that the issue is not merely about the travel time but rather a pervasive feeling of vulnerability regardless of the time.
The data also underscores the specific time frames during which women feel the safest and the most unsafe. The daytime work-hour bracket (9 am-5 pm) emerges as the preferred time for travel, with 71% of respondents feeling safest during these hours. Conversely, the graveyard shift (12 am-7 am) is considered the least safe, with less than 1% of respondents feeling secure during this time and a substantial 45% considering it the most unsafe.
These findings are deeply troubling as they highlight the pervasive nature of the issue of women’s safety, particularly concerning their mobility and access to public spaces. The fact that such a high percentage of women feel unsafe while travelling, even during daylight hours, underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address the underlying causes of this insecurity. It speaks to broader issues such as gender-based violence, inadequate transportation infrastructure, lack of lighting and security measures, and societal attitudes that contribute to the marginalization and vulnerability of women in public spaces.
What can be the way forward:
- The survey ‘Women on the Move’ conducted by Youth ki Awaaz and Observer Research Foundation suggests installing working CCTV cameras in all vital transport junctions such as bus depots, train stations, street corners, taxis, etc. At the same time, the footage is monitored by a special task force at the nearest traffic station, which can make women feel safer while traveling at any time.
- The survey also suggests that more women in positions of authority can make non-peak hours traveling easier. Hence, GPS-enabled night taxi services with women drivers can improve safety during non-peak hours.
- Another study titled “Safety of Women in Urban Public Spaces: A Case Study of Delhi” by Jagori and UN Women explores strategies for enhancing women’s safety in urban public spaces, like improving street lighting, increasing police presence, and promoting community engagement.
Although several cities and states have incorporated measures to increase women’s safety during commuting, the survey results show that most women continue to feel the need to feel safer.
In conclusion, the survey “Women on the Move” sheds light on women's significant challenges while traveling, with 90% feeling unsafe past 8 pm. This underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address women’s safety concerns, including installing CCTV cameras, increasing women in positions of authority, etc. Stakeholders must collaborate to create environments where women feel safe and empowered to navigate public spaces at any time of day.