
Women Navigating the City
Brussels, 19 December 2022
Organised with the Belgian Federal public planning service for social integration
Research from Plan International Belgium reports that 91% of women aged 15 to 24 in Belgium have already experienced sexual harassment in public spaces in comparison to 24% of young men. Violence against women is a universal phenomenon. It infringes on their right to the city and limits their ability to move around the city freely, safely, and comfortably. Raising awareness of these issues is crucial to make cities not only safer, but more equal.
Through the New Urban Agenda and the 2030 Agenda, States have shown commitment to the promotion of safe, healthy, inclusive and secure cities for all population groups. In the European context, the Urban Agenda for the EU has brought forth an architectural and spatial design framework to make cities safe and secure with the Partnership on Security in Public Spaces. Alongside these developments, the important role for municipal governments, civil society organisations, academics and the private sector in organising and publicising effective public campaigns against harassment should also be recognised.
This Policy Lab looked at national and local initiatives geared towards improving women’s experiences and safety in the public space. The event’s aim was to develop a common understanding of what is perceived as safe in urban environments, to share best practices on innovate measures and to discuss the importance of behaviour change in eradicating gender-based harassment.
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