Dear Editor,
Despite the significant progress women have made in almost all areas of public life, the issue of public transportation continues to be a sore point regarding gender equality.
Regrettably, women still continue to feel unsafe in the public arena and more needs to be done to reverse this trend. The journey to women’s fundamental right to freedom of movement continues to be plagued by male-induced harassment. For example, in Bogota, Colombia, ranked as the most dangerous city for a woman to take public transport in the world, six in every 10 women report physical harassment while travelling. Further, a report issued by Plan International indicated the fear of violence felt by adolescent girls is prevalent particularly in developing cities of Kampala, Delhi and Lima.
Gender inequality has many variations and requires many interventions to bring about equality. There is an urgent need to include women in the discourse regarding public transportation. Disturbingly, the same research states that in Delhi only 3.3 per cent reported always feeling safe while using public transport. Meanwhile, in Lima, only 2.2 per cent claimed to feel secure when walking in public spaces. In Kampala, over 80 per cent of young women stated that they do not feel safe whilst in urban transition, in general. While Jamaica was included in this Asia-based research there are common themes for females worldwide.
Sadly, as a society we have developed and continue to nurture a culture of silence. This code of silence affects both sexes and facilitates the perpetuation of the verbal, sexual and physical harassment of women experience daily on public transportation, in their private lives, as well as, in the public sphere. For the most part, public transportation across the globe is traditionally a male-dominated area in which policymakers and governments have not seriously sought to address the gender inequality which characterises the system. In order to rectify this we need to work towards an inclusive public transportation policy in which the concerns of women are included in order to achieve sustainable development.
Policymakers must be mindful of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), otherwise known as the global goals. Of note is SDG 11, which speaks to making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable; as well as SDG 5, which emphasises gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in society. Gender-based harassment, whether in urban or rural areas, is nothing to smile about and needs urgent attention.
In the words of former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, gender equality is more than a goal in itself; it is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development, and building good governance.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
@WayneCamo
Despite the significant progress women have made in almost all areas of public life, the issue of public transportation continues to be a sore point regarding gender equality.
Regrettably, women still continue to feel unsafe in the public arena and more needs to be done to reverse this trend. The journey to women’s fundamental right to freedom of movement continues to be plagued by male-induced harassment. For example, in Bogota, Colombia, ranked as the most dangerous city for a woman to take public transport in the world, six in every 10 women report physical harassment while travelling. Further, a report issued by Plan International indicated the fear of violence felt by adolescent girls is prevalent particularly in developing cities of Kampala, Delhi and Lima.
Gender inequality has many variations and requires many interventions to bring about equality. There is an urgent need to include women in the discourse regarding public transportation. Disturbingly, the same research states that in Delhi only 3.3 per cent reported always feeling safe while using public transport. Meanwhile, in Lima, only 2.2 per cent claimed to feel secure when walking in public spaces. In Kampala, over 80 per cent of young women stated that they do not feel safe whilst in urban transition, in general. While Jamaica was included in this Asia-based research there are common themes for females worldwide.
Sadly, as a society we have developed and continue to nurture a culture of silence. This code of silence affects both sexes and facilitates the perpetuation of the verbal, sexual and physical harassment of women experience daily on public transportation, in their private lives, as well as, in the public sphere. For the most part, public transportation across the globe is traditionally a male-dominated area in which policymakers and governments have not seriously sought to address the gender inequality which characterises the system. In order to rectify this we need to work towards an inclusive public transportation policy in which the concerns of women are included in order to achieve sustainable development.
Policymakers must be mindful of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), otherwise known as the global goals. Of note is SDG 11, which speaks to making cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable; as well as SDG 5, which emphasises gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in society. Gender-based harassment, whether in urban or rural areas, is nothing to smile about and needs urgent attention.
In the words of former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, gender equality is more than a goal in itself; it is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development, and building good governance.
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
@WayneCamo