Should the release of convicted rapists, like Govindachamy, prompt women to enforce self-imposed home confinement?
In a world where the safety of women continues to be compromised, a critical aspect of the broader gender-based violence (GBV) issue is the women's safety crisis in public transportation. Despite limited data on the specific statistics for women's safety in public spaces like transportation, existing research and reports provide a strong context regarding the scale of gender-based violence globally and some of the complex factors that worsen women's public safety risks.
One of the most alarming statistics is that nearly one in three women has experienced some form of physical or sexual violence, often from intimate partners. However, this figure excludes many unreported cases, so actual risks—including in public spaces like transportation—are believed to be higher. Reports suggest a "shadow pandemic" of violence against women and girls, exacerbated by factors such as conflict, climate change, and social instability.
Public transportation is often unsafe due to risks of harassment, assault, and sexual violence, which reportedly remain pervasive globally. Lack of gender-sensitive policies, inadequate lighting, poor surveillance, and absent reporting mechanisms exacerbate these risks. Women in conflict-affected or crisis zones face heightened vulnerability as instability disrupts public order and essential services. The intersection of other crises such as climate change further intensifies violence risks by destabilizing communities and infrastructure, impacting women's safe mobility.
Effective solutions to improve women's safety in public transportation include integrating gender perspectives in transport planning, legal and policy reforms, funding and supporting women's organizations, public awareness and education, technological innovations, and international coordination and monitoring.
The recent escape of a convicted rapist in India, Govindachamy, serves as a stark reminder of the challenges women face in ensuring their safety. The incident reopened old wounds and proved that the police cannot always protect women. The escape was not just a lapse in security, but an indictment of the system. Laws are seen as paper shields, and justice as too little, too late for many women.
The Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case in India highlighted the need for legal reforms, with the law being changed to allow 16-18-year-olds to be tried as adults in heinous crimes following public fury. Four of the six men involved in the case were hanged in 2020, but the "juvenile" in the case, who was 17 at the time, served three years in a correctional home and was released in 2015.
This is not just a problem in India, but a global emergency, affecting women in countries such as London, America, Australia, and Brazil. The solution requires a multi-dimensional approach addressing infrastructure, legal frameworks, social norms, and resource allocation, with particular attention to vulnerable groups in crisis settings.
While broad data on violence against women is documented, specific global statistics on women's safety in public transportation are limited in the latest reports, underscoring the need for more focused data collection and research. Solutions must be regionally tailored as risks and infrastructural challenges vary widely. Ongoing global crises—conflict, climate change, humanitarian funding shortfalls—pose serious constraints to the implementation and sustainability of safety measures.
Millions of women protested, saying "Enough!", but it's still not enough. Until the world learns to cage its predators, it should stop telling women to cage themselves. Mothers' fears should not be dismissed as paranoia, as they are based on lived experience. Women often self-police due to fear, with their daughters living in invisible cages and constant checking on their safety. The cost of this progress was the life of a young woman. The escape of Govindachamy reminded the author of another notorious case, the so-called "juvenile" in the Nirbhaya gang-rape case. The fight for women's safety continues, and it's up to all of us to ensure that progress is made.
- In the realm of parenting conversations, it's crucial to discuss the importance of empowering daughters with self-defense skills and knowledge about personal safety, given the persisting women's safety crisis in public transportation.
- The business sector can play a significant role in this endeavor by funding and supporting initiatives aimed at enhancing public transportation safety for women, considering the detrimental impact of gender-based violence on women's mental and physical health.
- In the sphere of entertainment, storytelling can be leveraged to raise awareness about gender-based violence and promote healthier gender norms, especially in relation to sexual and mental health—areas where women often face challenges.
- Opinion leaders from various fields can contribute to the discourse on women's safety by voicing their support for policies that address the underlying causes of GBV, such as social instability and climate change, which are identified as exacerbating factors in public spaces.
- News outlets can also play a part by highlighting successful efforts to improve women's safety in public transportation, as well as the challenges faced in implementation and sustainability—particularly in regions affected by ongoing crises.
- In the realm of politics and general news, policy makers should prioritize the development and implementation of gender-sensitive policies in public transportation, supported by resources, technology, and international collaboration to address the global emergency of women's safety.
