Womens Safety Security 0

CPB
Corporate Partnership
Board
Women’s Safety
and Security
A Public Transport Priority
Women’s Safety
and Security
The International Transport Forum
The International Transport Forum is an intergovernmental organisation with 59 member countries. It

acts as a think tank for transport policy and organises the Annual Summit of transport ministers. ITF is
the only global body that covers all transport modes. The ITF is politically autonomous and
administratively integrated with the OECD.
The ITF works for transport policies that improve peoples’ lives. Our mission is to foster a deeper
understanding of the role of transport in economic growth, environmental sustainability and social
inclusion and to raise the public profile of transport policy.
The ITF organises global dialogue for better transport. We act as a platform for discussion and pre-
negotiation of policy issues across all transport modes. We analyse trends, share knowledge and
promote exchange among transport decision-makers and civil society. The ITF’s Annual Summit is the
world’s largest gathering of transport ministers and the leading global platform for dialogue on transport
policy.
The Members of the Forum are: Albania, Armenia, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China (People’s Republic of), Croatia, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands,
New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the
United States.
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Cite as: ITF (2018), Women’s Safety and Security: A Public Transport Priority, OECD Publishing, Paris.
WOMEN’S SAFETY AND SECURITY: A PUBLIC TRANSPORT PRIORITY | ITF
Acknowledgements
This report features written contributions from K. Jane Williams, Acting Administrator, Federal Transit
Administration, United States Department of Transportation, Maja Bakran, Deputy Director General for
Mobility and Transport, European Commission; Jacques Colliard, Head, Security Unit, International Union
of Railways (UIC); Carole Escolan-Zeno, Manager, Sustainable Development, International Union of
Railways (UIC), Bernard Penners, Manager, Safety Unit, International Union of Railways (UIC); ElsaMarie
D’Silva, CEO, Safecity; Aline Delatte and Dionisio Gonzalez, Advocacy and Outreach Director,
International Association of Public Transport (UITP); Marie-Axelle Grannie, Senior Researcher, French
Institute of Science and Technology for Transport, Development and Networks (IFSTTAR); Elisabeth Gue,
Sécurité au Féminin, SNCF; Emma Mclennan, Director, Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable
Transport (EASST); Muneeza Mehmood Alam, Economist, The World Bank; Sofia Salek de Braun, Solution
Director Traffic Safety and Paulo Humanes, Vice President,Business Development, PTV Group; Sonal
Shah, Senior Programme Manager, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) India and
Letícia Bortolon, Policy Coordinator, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) Brazil;
Bronwen Thornton, Development Director and Jim Walker, Strategic Director, Walk21; Sheila Watson,
Director, Environment and Research, FIA Foundation; Allison Wylie, Transportation and Mobility Policy,
Uber; Larissa Zeichhardt, CEO, LAT Funkanlagen-Service GmbH; Jean Agulhon, Deputy CEO in charge of
Human Resources and Social Innnovation, RATP Group; Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, and Magdalena Olczak-Rancitelli of the International Transport Forum
(ITF).
The project was co-ordinated and prepared by Magdalena Olczak-Rancitelli, and reviewed by Mary Crass
(ITF). Liv Gudmundson was responsible for publication co-ordination. Editing, formatting and assistance
was provided by Mireille Benicke, Assia Djahafi, and Vatsalya Sohu (ITF).
© OECD/ITF 2018 3
Table of contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 6
Ensuring safe and secure public transport for women and girls .......................................................... 8
Travelling safely: The EU perspective .................................................................................................. 10
Women’s safety and security in the railways...................................................................................... 12
Stopping gender-based violence in transport ..................................................................................... 14
Advancing safe and secure public transport for women .................................................................... 16
Transport, mobility and security: A matter of gender ........................................................................ 18
SNCF for safety and security for women in transport ........................................................................ 20
Transport that meets diverse needs ................................................................................................... 22
Women in transport: Safety and personal security ............................................................................ 24
A safe city for women and girls is a safe city for everyone ................................................................. 26
Creating gendered mobility plans to enable safe and secure transport: Challenges and ways
forward for India and Brazil ................................................................................................................ 28
Women and walking: Safety and security ........................................................................................... 30
Ending the harassment “nightmare” .................................................................................................. 32
Safety and security for women in transport ....................................................................................... 34
Creating gender-sensitive public transport for women ...................................................................... 36
The RATP perspective on safety and security for women in transport .............................................. 38
Women Mobilize Women Conference summary ............................................................................... 40
Safe and secure transport for women summary ................................................................................ 42
© OECD/ITF 2018 5
Introduction
Many women feel exposed to physical aggression, sexual harassment or other forms of unwelcome
behaviour in public transport. This is not only morally unacceptable in itself, it also causes economic and
social harm, as well as reinforcing other forms of inequality.
The International Transport Forum (ITF) first launched, at the 2015 ITF Summit, a series of discussions on
women in transport which provided an opportunity for all stakeholders to highlight their initiatives to
enhance greater gender equality in the sector. These discussions have stimulated a number of formal
and informal debates since then on a broad range of topics amongst diverse stakeholders, including
transport ministers, international organisations, and ITF business and civil society partners.
To prepare the debates on women in transport at the 2018 ITF Summit on Transport Safety and Security,
the ITF invited its stakeholders to discuss the importance of transport safety and security for women as
transport users and employees in the sector. Their contributions, brought together here, highlight key
safety and security issues, related challenges and shortcomings, and propose solutions for truly safe,
secure, and ultimately inclusive and sustainable transport.
The authors mostly focus on urban areas where more women than men use public transport and they
heavily depend on these systems for their mobility needs. Transport safety and security are key factors in
women’s mobility habits and choices. Meanwhile, the authors’ examples show that a large majority of
women worldwide feel unsafe in public transport and have been victims of some type of physical or
verbal harassment and other forms of violence in public spaces. As a result, women often prefer driving
when faced with a modal choice, using taxis or other forms of for-hire ride services rather than walking,
cycling or using public transport.
The authors argue a fundamental cultural change is needed to design transport systems with women in
mind. They call for urgent actions to make public space safe and secure, including infrastructure and
operational improvements, public awareness campaigns, well-trained transport employees, and better
reporting systems, combined with a zero tolerance approach to harassment. Some of these actions
require time and resources to bring about change, but often relatively small improvements to the travel
environment, such as better lighting, can be critical in changing the perception of safety and security.
A number of authors also highlight that better data - notably gender-differentiated data and
information - is needed to better assess the situation and develop appropriate, evidence-based
responses and policies.
In order to design transport systems with women in mind, the sector needs more women in transport
jobs. To increase female employment, company-based measures should be supported by broader
institutional and societal efforts in order to drive the necessary cultural changes. Education and training
are key in this respect, but the working conditions and environment, notably related to safety and
security, are also important. Any form of discrimination, harassment or violence in the workplace must
be eliminated.
6 © OECD/ITF 2018
Innovative technologies and new business models can also provide opportunities for improving safety
and security for women in transport, both for transport users and workers. Some examples include
innovative use of information and communication technologies to report cases of harassment, generate
relevant data and improve access to information or services that help address safety and security
challenges.
Finally, the authors argue that exchange of good practices among all stakeholders within the transport
sector and with other sectors, such as energy or information and communications technologies (ICTs) is
also important.
The authors point to the ITF as an institution that provides a unique platform to advance global dialogue
on gender issues in transport and to facilitate sharing knowledge among policy makers.
This compendium concludes with a summary of the 2018 ITF Summit session “Safe and Secure Transport
for Women”, as well as the conclusions of the conference Women Mobilize Women, organised by the
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, which was organised as a part of
the Pre-Summit’s debates.
The 2018 Summit programme featured a number of other sessions and stakeholder events dedicated to
women in transport, including the Summit official side event “Safe and Inclusive Transport for Women
and Girls”, led by the Latin American Development Bank (CAF) and the World Bank, presentations and
discussions on this topic at the Summit Open Stage Café, as well the Summit networking event “Women
in Transport” organised by Bombardier Transportation.
The ITF-led debate on discussions on gender and transport will continue in the lead-up to and during the
2019 ITF Summit on “Transport Connectivity for Regional Integration” to be held on 22-24 May in Leipzig.
© OECD/ITF 2018 7
Ensuring safe and secure public transport for

women and girls
K. Jane Williams, Acting Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, United States
Department of Transportation
Public transport is an essential service that provides individuals with access to work, to an education and
to all of life’s opportunities. And yet, the access of many women and girls to safe public transport options
is threatened by the potential of being assaulted or victimised. Worse still, the freedom of travel
provided by transit has been abused by those who are engaged in human trafficking. These threats exist
in small towns and large cities, and in wealthy nations as well as developing ones; and universal problems
require global action.
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) is charged with promoting the safety of the
country’s public transit systems through funding capital projects and supporting research into new
technologies. Individual states, territories and local governments are responsible for planning what
public transport to build, where to build it, and how to operate those services. USDOT partners with
transit agencies and other state and local authorities to ensure the safety of transit riders; this includes
preventing human trafficking, sexual harassment and assault.
Under U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s leadership, a federal Advisory Committee on Human
Trafficking is being launched to make recommendations on actions the Department can take to help
combat human trafficking. The Committee will also develop recommended best practices for state and
local transport stakeholders, including transit, in combatting human trafficking. The Committee will be
bolstered by the Department’s “Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking” initiative is engaging
industry leaders, training employees, and providing public awareness materials that our transport
partners can use. USDOT trains its 55 000 employees and is working with other federal agencies and
non-governmental organisations to make available a suite of human trafficking awareness materials
tailored to the transit, aviation, rail, motor coach and trucking industries. Together, we are equipping
train operators, bus drivers, flight attendants, truck drivers, and other transport employees to recognise
and report human trafficking.
Across the United States, transit systems are working to address the specific concerns of women and
girls. For example, transit agencies are working to create a culture among their employees that ensures
that every report of harassment and assault is taken seriously, including providing training to reinforce a
culture of zero tolerance. Transit agencies also use advertising to educate community members on how
to report incidents, as well as warn potential perpetrators that harassment will not be tolerated.
Women face distinct issues and specific threats when using transportation. In the United States, we have
been coping with the issue of physical and verbal assault on bus operators, and many of the solutions
that we’re researching and implementing align with those that women who are surveyed often request:
greater presence of transit and local police, video cameras to document and deter assaults, and training
for transit operators on the best ways to de-escalate confrontations. Implementing these types of
measures in the Los Angeles METRO bus system resulted in a 39% decrease in total crime and a 60%
decrease in operator assaults between 2017 and 2018.
Looking at further solutions, it’s clear that the environment around transit infrastructure makes a
difference in both actual safety and the perception of safety. This means, for example, designing
8 © OECD/ITF 2018
infrastructure with adequate lighting and clear sight lines, and eliminating nooks, corners, and isolated
areas that may facilitate assaults. Local transit agencies – and often their partners at the state level –
already consult with the public on planned services to help determine locally preferred options and to
prepare for changes to services and routes within the community. We encourage transit agencies to
consult with women’s groups and civic organisations that advocate on their behalf to better understand
safety concerns in the design and construction of transit infrastructure. We want transit agencies to
appreciate that it’s difficult to recognise a problem if you aren’t the one who experiences the problem.
Secretary Chao is the first Asian American woman and the first Chinese American to serve at the Cabinet
level. Her family moved to the United States from Taiwan when she was a young girl, and she often
speaks about how the public transportation system in New York City – the subway and bus systems –
gave her a measure of freedom and independence that allowed her to take full advantage of living in one
of the world’s most exciting, diverse, and culturally- and economically-influential cities.
Every woman and girl in the U.S. – and across the globe – deserves the same opportunity to travel freely
and without fear. Each of us who are responsible for providing transportation must continue to keep our
transportation networks safe by eliminating human trafficking, sexual harassment and assault.
© OECD/ITF 2018 9
Travelling safely: The EU perspective

Maja Bakran, Deputy Director General for Mobility and Transport, European Commission
The European Union (EU) and its member states are committed to ensuring the safety and security of
their citizens. As transport users and workers, women and men are not equally affected; women face
higher levels of violence. Reducing this gap is a matter of fairness, economic efficiency, equality of
opportunity and full participation in society.
The transport users' perspective
Safety can refer to taking measures to reduce or eliminate risks of accidents. In road safety, for example,
while the EU has made major progress over the past decades, far more men than women are killed in
road crashes: only 24% of all road fatalities are women, while the proportion of male drivers killed in
road accidents is over 80% in some countries. There are many reasons for this, but one important
element is perhaps that women tend to adapt their behaviour to avoid risks. Among pedestrians,
however, almost twice as many women are killed as men.
“Travelling safely” can also imply non-accidental risk, including the risk of violence or harassment.
Although both women and men face the risk of violence, most victims are women. Perceptions of risk
vary across Europe. When asked in a 2016 Eurobarometer survey where violence was more likely to
occur, 27% of French respondents mentioned public transport but none of the Spanish respondents did.
Women use public transport more than men. They are also more aware and concerned than men about
the threat of harassment or violence in public transport. Well-reported events in recent years have
highlighted these issues which may discourage women from using public transport.
Safety and security of women in transport is not just a question of law enforcement. The transport
community has an important role to play by main-streaming specific measures regarding women’s safety
and security into policy making. This will require "joined-up thinking", involving policy makers transport
planners, architects, companies, users' associations and psychologists.
The transport workers' perspective
According to the 2017 survey by the European Transport Workers' Federation 63% of respondents had
faced violence: 49% from customers, 22% from colleagues and 17% from managers/supervisors. Among
the women who reported an incident, 80% did not believe that their complaint had negative
consequences for the perpetrator, or made the workplace safer. This is a serious concern for women
who seek to develop careers in the transport sector.
An example is the lack of safe, secure and well-equipped parking facilities for goods vehicles. This is a
challenge for all professional drivers which could notably prevent women from choosing the profession.
Addressing this issue, and similar safety-related challenges, could help make the sector more attractive
for women and reduce the current gender gap. Currently, women represent only 22% of the EU
transport workforce, and even less - below 5 % - for some occupations such as drivers. In economic
terms, this is a regrettable waste of talent. Transport policy-makers need to work towards ensuring that
women and men are given an equal and fair chance to build a safe and inclusive transport sector of the
future.
10 © OECD/ITF 2018
The impact of innovation and digitalisation

Tremendous changes are underway in the transport sector. Innovative digital solutions, new business
models (e.g. sharing, collaborative models), new services, new jobs (e.g. remote operators of vehicles) as
well as new challenges (e.g. cybersecurity) are emerging. Digitalisation and new transport models can
provide better, safer, more accessible and more affordable services. Connectivity and automation can
compensate for human error, for example, in road traffic; door-to-door services can enhance safety and
security, while digital jobs can improve the working environment and work-life balance.
At the same time, new challenges need to be considered while designing transport systems. These, for
example, include supervision of "unregulated" service providers, and potential threats from users of
shared vehicles. Increased automation of supervision in public spaces, such as train stations, can mean
less physical presence of staff service. If there is no one there to help, passengers may feel less secure –
regardless if they are a man or a woman.
Women's specific needs and preferences have to be assessed and taken into account when developing
new technologies and services in transport.
What role does the EU play?
The European Commission finances a number of research projects in order to create a more secure and
safe travel environment for all. In October 2017, under the EU Horizon 2020 programme, we invited
tenders for a study on demographic change and participation of women in transport, which will examine
amongst other issues the problem of harassment and violence. Another study is underway on safe and
secure parking areas which will draw up a map of locations for safe and secure parking on the core
Trans-European Transport Network.
We also share good practices developed by our European stakeholders. Over the last few years, several
public transport campaigns have been launched to promote safe and secure transport for women.
Positive initiatives have been developed such as "on demand" bus stops closer to home at night. The
Commission has a website dedicated to facilitating the exchange and the dissemination of best practices.
To assist women working in the transport sector and to encourage them to join the sector, the European
Commission has launched the website Women in Transport – EU Platform for change. The site also
focuses on the issue of harassment and violence.
European stakeholders can learn from each other, for the benefit of women and men in the transport
sector. Best practices developed in Europe can also be used in other regions of the world. ITF can also
help to increase safety and security for all.
Useful links
Women in Transport – EU Platform for change
ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/social/women-transport-eu-platform-change_en
EU Campaign "Say No to Violence"
ec.europa.eu/justice/saynostopvaw/
Urban transport campaigns
International www.uitp.org/news/uitp-and-world-bank-discuss-women-public-transport
In France www.egalite-femmes-hommes.gouv.fr/?s=transports
In Belgium: www.violencessexuelles.be/harcelement-de-rue
© OECD/ITF 2018 11
Women’s safety and security in the railways

Jacques Colliard, Head, Security Unit, International Union of Railways (UIC)
Carole Escolan-Zeno, Manager, Sustainable Development, UIC
Bernard Penners, Manager, Safety Unit, UIC
The International Union of Railways (UIC) - the worldwide railway organisation - provides an initial
response to how to make transport a safer and secure experience for women. It helps empowering
women through safer and better rail transport services. Ultimately, the UIC works towards achieving the
United Nations’ 11th Sustainable Development Goal, which highlights a need to make cities and human
settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable for all.
Violence in public spaces, including sexual harassment in transport, is a reality for women and girls in
many countries. Train stations and trains are vulnerable spaces for women due to crowded space or,
conversely, due to isolated areas where there is no one available to intervene and help in case of
emergency. Sexual assault, molestation and even rape are reported on trains and have been on the rise.
In many European countries women’s security in public transport remains a challenge. In France, for
example, more women than men feel unsafe while using public transport. According to the 2017 survey
“Victimisation and feeling of insecurity in Ile-de-France” (Victimation et sentiment d'insécurité en Île-de-
France), by the Institute of Planning and Development of the Île-de-France Region (l'Institut
d'aménagement et d'urbanisme de la région d'Île-de-France, IAURIF), transit and train stations account
for 39% of sexual assaults against women. The fear of being assaulted or robbed goes as far as
restraining oneself from using public transport.
Violence against women and girls both as train passengers and employees in the sector is something that
needs to be urgently addressed.
In order to enhance women’s safety and security in railways, the UIC conducted a study among its
members to assess:
 whether the evolution of abuse and attacks against female passengers on railway premises
(trains, stations, platforms, etc.) has decreased or increased within the last five years
 the most affected areas (e.g. stations, platforms, trains), and when abuses occur (e.g. weekends,
at night).
 the nature of the countermeasures and best practices that companies are planning or have in
place
 specific regulations and actions put in place for women’s security guards that have been
implemented (team composition, operating times, self-protection, etc.).
The majority of the 18 respondents - mainly European railways - pointed out that the number of abuses
and attacks against female passengers on railway premises has remained stable for the past five years;
22% of respondents identified an increase of violence. Abuses and attacks happen everywhere along the
transport system.
12 © OECD/ITF 2018
The respondents highlighted a variety of specific measures that already exist or need to be taken,
including:
 Dedicated awareness and information campaigns in trains, on platforms or in stations that aim to
inform passengers that in case of sexual harassment they can call a given phone number or use
some specific applications to ask for help. The goal is to raise public awareness about the topic
and increase civic courage. In several countries railway companies propose separate women’s
coaches in long-distance trains, which are close to the service coaches of the train staff.
 Surveys dedicated to investigating inappropriate behaviour, with a focus on sexual intimidation,
are conducted amongst the staff, followed by the organisation of focus groups.
These measures are a first step to fight against gender-based harassment; 67% of the respondents are
willing to conduct more investigations and share experience and good practices with their peers.
The results of the survey revealed a number of ethical questions, including:
 consistency between national laws and internal policies about gender equality
 operational measures and initiatives by railway staff in order to help victims
 solutions to prevent such behaviour (i.e. education, communication, control, etc.).
Due to the ethical importance of this topic, urgent means to make progress have to be developed.
Sharing experiences and best practices and/or challenges are key to making joint progress on the
subject.
© OECD/ITF 2018 13
Stopping gender-based violence in transport

ElsaMarie D’Silva, CEO, Safecity
One day I was travelling by local train in Mumbai with my mother and siblings. It was extremely crowded
and just before we could alight at our destination, I felt my skirt being lifted and someone groping my
private parts. I could not move to swat the hand away nor could I raise an alarm as my voice would have
been drowned in the noise of the crowd. All I could do was cringe in shame and hope I made it out of the
train as fast as possible. I was only thirteen years old.
That incident stuck in my mind and whether I acknowledged it or not, had a lasting effect on me. I hate
crowded spaces and hated travelling by local train in Mumbai for years afterward. However, I did not
make the association till a few years ago when I started my organisation Safecity to work on the issue of
gender-based violence. Since then, I have made every effort to take the local train in Mumbai and
overcome my fear.
I am not alone in my experience of sexual violence.
Many women and girls experience sexual violence in public spaces, including public transportation, every
day, everywhere. A recent national survey on sexual harassment and assault by Stop Street Harassment
indicates that one-in-four women experienced sexual harassment or assault on public transit in the
United States. A survey in France found that 100% of women in the Paris area had experienced sexual
harassment on the regional transit systems. A Reuters survey of 16 major cities worldwide found that
women in Latin American cities faced the highest rates of harassment, with about six-in-ten women
reporting physical harassment on public transit systems.
In India, where I am based, the recent Safecity Railway Audit report showed it is a problem here, too.
Based on interviews with over 1 000 people at seven railway stations in Mumbai, 54% said they had
experienced sexual harassment. Out of these, 88% were women. Touching and groping was the form of
sexual harassment more frequently reported, and 34% of the women said they felt unsafe at the railway
stations. Nearly all women (94%) said they did not report their experience to the police, and 83% were
not aware of their rights under the law. Indeed, most people who said during the Safecity audit that they
were harassed refused to report it even on the Safecity mapping platform, stating that sexual
harassment is just a part of their everyday life.
Not reporting sexual harassment is a common occurrence. Some people are afraid that others will blame
them for the incident, pressuring them to prove their innocence, or that they will bring shame to
themselves and their families. Often, reporting to a higher authority like the police can be traumatic as
they may come across as insensitive. The lack of knowledge of existing legislations can also be a barrier.
All these issues can create a culture of silence that makes it hard for a survivor to speak up.
When the issue is under-reported, it is difficult to then make the issue fully visible and plan appropriate
interventions. However, there are ways in which we can encourage women to break their silence around
the issue and create safe spaces for all travellers.
14 © OECD/ITF 2018
Some of our recommendations based on the railway audits include the following:
1) Improve the lighting as it has a direct influence over the perception of safety.
2) Have more entry and exit points to ease congestion.
3) Improve infrastructures including toilets, staircases and pedestrian bridges.
4) Increase the presence of police personnel including women police at peak times to be a
deterrent for perpetrators.
5) Display advertisements educating people on the spectrum of abuse as well as the legislation.
This will embolden women to seek help but also encourage bystanders to intervene.
6) Use posters and wall art to educate people on the issue both inside the train and on the
platforms.
7) Publicise helpline numbers.
8) Have functional and visible helpdesks where people can get immediate assistance.
9) Make reporting incidents simple and easy so that more women do it – this can help show the
patterns and trends and lead to pre-emptive solutions.
Sexual violence is a global pandemic that needs immediate redressal. In the context of the space in which
it takes place, it carries corollary implications for individuals and communities. When women lose access
to public spaces because of sexual violence in public transport they lose opportunities and civic rights. If
a State is unable to provide for equal access to public spaces for all, it is by default not allowing for the
full realisation of the rights of the affected persons and its developmental potential. Sexual violence is
increasingly a developmental challenge that needs primary attention and resolution for building the
possibility of a supportive environment that can drive other development.
Useful links
National Study on Sexual Harassment and Assault, Executive Summary
www.stopstreetharassment.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Executive-Summary-2018-National-Study-on-
Sexual-Harassment-and-Assault.pdf
100 per cent of Frenchwomen 'victims of sexual harassment on public transport'
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/11545643/100-per-cent-of-Frenchwomen-victims-of-
sexual-harassment-on-public-transport.html
Latin American cities have most dangerous transport for women
uk.reuters.com/article/women-poll/exclusive-poll-latin-american-cities-have-most-dangerous-transport-for-
women-nyc-best-idUKL6N0S32MQ20141029
A Gender Sensitive Approach to Transport in Mumbai
safecity.in/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/WBMRVC-ppt.pdf
Safecity website
www.safecity.in/
© OECD/ITF 2018 15
Advancing safe and secure public transport for

women
Aline Delatte, International Expert in Urban Mobility, Advocacy International Association
of Public Transport (UITP)
Dionisio Gonzalez, Outreach Director, UITP
Security and safety issues are the most influential factors for women’s mobility patterns. In some
countries, the lack of a secure urban environment strongly restricts women’s mobility and limits their
access to job opportunities, education and health care services. Being exposed to harassment on the way
to the next metro station, facing fear by standing in a crowded bus at peak hours, rushing to get home
before dark are only a few of the many security aspects women consider while planning their journey.
While women rely more on public transport than men, they are also the most vulnerable to violence in
public spaces. Risk of harassment in public transport is a permanent threat for women, in all countries,
without exception. Ensuring safe and secure transport is the basic and most relevant requirement for
inclusive development.
However, women’s access to public transport should not be reduced to a security issue but rather must
be embedded in the overall mission of public transport authorities and operators to excel in customer
service, by matching the specific needs of all segments of society, including women. Expectations and
needs of women have been too long neglected in public transport planning, mainly due to the
“invisibility” of gender issues. The lack of disaggregated mobility data and the insignificant share of
officially reported cases of harassment in public transport could have led to a careless development in
terms of gender consideration. Additionally, the unequal representation of women in decision making,
planning, and other levels of the public transport sector exacerbates the low awareness of women’s
specific needs among public transport stakeholders.
As the internationally leading public transport association, UITP is actively promoting gender equity in
the public transport sector and advocating gender-responsive development. On a global level, UITP is
shaping the international agenda on gender in public transport, in consortium with influential and
knowledgeable organisations and agencies in the transport sector under the umbrella of the Sustainable
Mobility for All (SuM4All) initiative. On regional and local levels, UITP contributes to raising awareness by
organising discussions in conferences and regional platforms on the needs for gender-responsive
measures.
In January 2018, UITP signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Bank to collaborate on
safety and security of women in public transport – and to advance the achievement of common
objectives. UITP and the World Bank are working on the development of a toolbox to support gender
mainstreaming in public transport. In the same context, World Bank and UITP successfully launched the
Public Transport for me campaign (#PT4ME) on the 2018 International Women's Day. More than
180 public transport authorities and operators in over 75 countries broadcasted the #PT4ME video and
disseminated posters and flyers on their network to raise public awareness on gender issues in public
transport.
Additionally, UITP is conducting substantive work to encourage and support public transport
stakeholders to tackle the gender issues in a comprehensive and realistic way. Our approach is twofold:
women as decision makers and public transport employees, and women as public transport customers.
16 © OECD/ITF 2018
These perspectives are directly intertwined: by ensuring gender equity at all levels of public transport
development, women’s concerns as travellers will be better taken into consideration.
From the employment perspective, UITP is working in close co-operation with the European Transport
Workers’ Federation (ETF), and the International Transport Workers' Federation. In 2014, the European
Social Partners (UITP and ETF) signed joint recommendations to promote women’s employment in the
European urban public transport sector and set the ambitious target to increase the share of women
employed from the average value of 17.5% in 2011 to at least 25% by 2020, and to 40% in 2035. The
recommendations and best practices developed and highlighted in the Women’s Employment and
Gender Policy in Urban Public Transport companies in Europe (WISE) projects became major references
in terms of gender-sensitive workplace and work-life-balance, health and safety at the work place,
working culture, wages, career growth, training and recruitment.
From a customer perspective, building a culture of service excellence is at the core of the current global
priorities of UITP Members. It includes the development of inclusive public transport, which will
contribute to fill the gender gap by ensuring safe and secure access to public transport for women.
However, for UITP members, providing a safe and secure service for women is not only a societal
concern, it is also a development opportunity: women - who constitute half of the world’s population -
represent a significant share of potential public transport customers. In some countries, the share of
public transport trips made by women is higher than the one made by men. In France, for instance,
two-thirds of passengers on public transport networks are women. In the US, 55% of mass transit riders
are women. Overall, surveys show that women rely more on public transport than men.
To attract and retain female customers, we need to provide an environment in which women feel safe
and secure all along their journey with an appropriate street lighting along the way to the next stations,
lively waiting areas in which they feel comfortable, friendly drivers and public transport staff they trust -
just to mention a few measures. Therefore, it is crucial to involve women at all levels of public transport
development, as planners, decision makers, as well as civil society leaders to better understand and
address their daily concerns.
Women’s access to public transport is not at all the sole responsibility of public transport providers, but
also the duty of all urban policy makers to encourage inclusive development and achieve together the
Sustainable Development Goals at the 2030 horizon. It is in line with ITF’s mission to foster a deeper
understanding of the role of transport in economic growth, environmental sustainability and social
inclusion. By addressing women’s mobility concerns, UITP and ITF contribute to raising policy-makers’
awareness regarding the need of gender-responsive transport development. Join us! It is urgent to act.
Useful links
UITP website
www.uitp.org/
Sustainable Mobility for All Initiative (Sum4all)
sum4all.org/
Public Transport for Me campaign (#PT4ME)
www.uitp.org/news/international-womens-day-2018-uitp-brings-you-pt4me
The World Bank
www.worldbank.org/
© OECD/ITF 2018 17
Transport, mobility and security: A matter of

gender
Marie-Axelle Grannie, Senior Researcher, French Institute of Science and Technology
for Transport, Development and Networks (IFSTTAR)
In the same way as in field of science,1 the subject of women and sex differences has long been
neglected in the field of transport. Transport planners did not want to distinguish individuals by their
origin or social group, even though decisions were made primarily by men, based on their own interests
and experiences.2
Beliefs about women at the wheel grew with the automobile. However, according to Berger (1986), the
stereotype of women being seen as bad drivers, unable to cope with stressful situations requiring rapid
decision making on the road, was initially intended to maintain "women in their place and protect them
from the corrupting influences present in society and in themselves."3
If women are not taken into account in transport policies and implicitly encouraged to stay at home: are
transport, mobility and safety a matter of sex or of gender? While the term "sex" is related to biological
differences between men and women, gender refers to beliefs, stereotypes, activities, personality traits,
or roles that a particular society considers more appropriate for women or for men.4 Thus, gender is a
social feature, leading to a social hierarchy between males and females. While biological differences
between the two sexes are stable over time, social expectations related to gender are constantly
changing. Investigating the question of gender is therefore taking into account an interest in men and
women, their similarities and their differences.
Mobility is a question of gender. The differences between men and women in mobility greatly increased
with the advent of the automobile and the growing distance between domestic spaces - a traditionally
female domain - and workplaces – traditionally men’s domain. While some differences tend to disappear
in younger generations, others persist and still reflect gender-differentiated social roles, particularly in
relation to childcare.5 This existence of differences between men and women, especially in terms of
social roles, has led to accentuated and perpetuated inequalities between men and women in terms of
mobility.6
Road safety is also a question of gender. Globally, three times as many men as women die in road
crashes. This is the largest sex difference in mortality rates due to unintentional injuries.7 In Europe, men
account for 75% of road crash fatalities. In France, this difference exists even before access to motorised
vehicles, but is particularly noticeable among young drivers: one-third of the drivers killed on the road in
France in 2015 were between 18 and 24, of whom 86% were men. Moreover, in 2015 men made up
82.5% of the alleged perpetrators of road crashes, 92% of the intoxicated drivers involved in a crash and
91% of drivers tested positive for narcotics.8 This difference is not only due to a sex difference in mileage.
According to the last French National Transport Survey of 2008, the two sex groups differ only slightly in
terms of average annual mileage: from 10% difference in the general population to 11.5% among active
single persons.
The research carried out in this area by IFSTTAR specifically examines the issue of gender in
transportation, mobility and safety. IFSTTAR gathered an overview of this research in the form of a
thematic dossier that can be retrieved from the Institute's website. Our goal was to improve the visibility,
18 © OECD/ITF 2018
accessibility, and availability of this research and more broadly, of the research topic of sex differences
and gender issues in transportation.
The IFSTTAR thematic web dossier “Transportation, mobility and safety: A matter of gender” confirms
that men and women do not use the same travel modes, neither at the same frequencies, nor for the
same reasons. This difference occurs throughout life - older women give up driving earlier than men do -
and may be partly the result of a higher risk perception among women. Thus, women feel less safe and
secure in public spaces and when using public transport. Their risk perception and the stereotypes on
women behind the wheel may explain some of their mobility choices - such as their low attraction to
powered two-wheelers - as well as their behaviour as drivers, riders or pedestrians, or their lower
achievement in the practical driving license test.
The dossier shows how considering women in transportation research can bring new perspectives on old
issues and redefine existing problems. Placing women as subjects for transportation research also allows
considering them as active participants in the definition of urban and transportation policies.
Useful links and literature

IFSTTAR website
www.ifsttar.fr/accueil/
1
Perrot, M. (1998), Les Femmes ou les silences de l'Histoire. Flammarion, Paris.
2
Fainstein, S.S. and L.J. Servon (2005), Gender and Planning. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, New Jersey
and London.
3
Berger, M.L. (1986), “Women drivers! The emergence of folklore and stereotypic opinions concerning feminine
automotive behaviour”. Women's Studies International Forum, Vol. 9/3, pp. 257-263
4
WHO (2011), Gender mainstreaming for health managers: a practical approach, www.who.int/gender-equity-
rights/understanding/gender-definition/en/
5
Wachs, M. (1996), “The Automobile and Gender: An Historical Perspective”. Chapter 6 in Rosenbloom, S. and S.
Byron (eds.), Women's travel issues. Proceedings from the Second National Conference, October 1996, US
Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration Washington, DC.
6.
Tillous, M. and S. Lahmani-Saada (2015), Boîte à outils : Genre, Transports et mobilité, Agence Française de
Développement, Paris
7
WHO (2002), Gender and road traffic injuries, whqlibdoc.who.int/gender/2002/a85576.pdf?ua=1
8
Guenivet, A., S. Jamin and T. Rousseau (2015), Les infractions au Code de la Route. L'impact sur le permis à points.
Bilan statistique de l'année 2014, Ministère de l'Intérieur, ONISR, Paris.
© OECD/ITF 2018 19
SNCF for safety and security for women in

transport
Elisabeth Gue, Sécurité au Féminin, SNCF
At the SNCF safety and security have always been given utmost importance. There is not one production
or management meeting that does not start by a safety and security update.
What does safe and secure railway travel mean? As a working definition, safety means avoiding accidents
while security implies preventing crime and abuse. Choosing rail as a transport mode implies travelling by
train and transiting through railway stations. Also, more and more people are coming to rail stations to
shop, eat, listen to an impromptu piano concert, or simply to pass through the station as a short cut.
The main issues concerning safety are linked to ensuring an efficient functioning of the railway system as
well as the stations. Whether it is rail infrastructure, signalling, rolling stock or stations, ensuring safety in
the initial design and maintaining it is a priority. It is necessary that there is continued advancement in
the expertise, training and control of procedures’ implementation.
Gender does not seem to be a specific factor when it comes to safety rail issues. Security, on the other
hand, is a different matter. Security implies protecting transport users against malicious actions and, or,
behaviours. Women are a prime target for a number of reasons, often due to the fact that most societies
are traditionally patriarchal. SNCF notes an increase in these malicious acts in the past years, both in
stations and on trains. These acts occur mainly after 5:00 pm on weekdays and after 10:00 pm on week-
ends, and they range from verbal abuses to physical and psychological harms. It is important to study the
occurrence of these acts. In what situations do they arise? Which factors increase or decrease the risks?
What is important in safety perception? How can we act now and what can we do for the future?
A lot of concerns exist for women working in the field of transport regarding their safety and security at
the work place. Some of these concerns are specifically linked to engineering and production jobs in the
railway which, for a long time, have been dominated by men. SNCF strives to provide equal access to
jobs and training by organising mixed teams, fostering a sense of understanding among employees, as
well as by creating a culture of respect and support for women as professionals. SNCF is constantly
working towards achieving a higher degree of inclusion of all people regardless of gender, origin, age and
ability. With the strong commitment of our top management, along with the support of managers and
co-workers at all levels, our goals translate into concrete actions.
We are striving to make SNCF an exemplary and responsible company and a leader of sustainable
mobility. The overriding requirements of safety and security are, therefore, SNCF’s top priorities, along
with resources dedicated to achieving these goals. SNCF has set up a global programme for safety
management connecting experts and operational personnel from different sectors to strive towards
safety excellence in a concrete and practical way. Priority is given to risk management, simplifying
procedures and documentation, sensitivity towards professional and personal factors, as well as towards
the development of a fair work-environment. In this context, women employees are especially
encouraged to participate in and bring their views to the discourse on safety in rail.
In terms of security, SNCF’s number one priority is to fight against gender-based abuse and violence. This
priority is embodied in the Transportation Code (2016 - article L2251-1). SNCF has a devoted, deployable
trained force of security guards and has initiated collaboration with the police department dedicated to
fight repression and prevent sexual harassment and assault.
20 © OECD/ITF 2018
Special tours of stations are organised with women transport users as well as employees to pinpoint
both major and minor risk areas. Focus has been put on better lighting, pleasant surroundings and
installation of CCTV cameras. An emergency number “3117” has been set up and displayed in all stations
and trains. Also, controllers patrol the trains at regular intervals. SNCF works at the root of the problem
by organising safety and civic responsibility seminars in schools. Every year more than 250 000 children
attend presentations by controllers, train drivers and train maintainers.
Concerning employment and careers for women in safety and security jobs, SNCF is active in recruiting
women and supporting equal career opportunities for all. There is no difference in training, but some
prompting is still useful to attract women towards executive positions.
In 2006, SNCF signed its first collective agreement on gender equality and diversity in the workplace and
held its first Equality and Skills Recruitment Forum. In 2013, SNCF signed a convention with the French
Ministry of Women's Rights.
In 2012, SNCF set up SNCF au Féminin which is a women’s internal network to help women break
through the glass ceilings and shed light on gender stereotyping. Today, with 6 500 adherents, it is the
biggest women’s company network in France. In 2017, the network launched a Think Do Tank “Sécurité
au féminin”, dedicated to bringing alternative perspectives to safety and security challenges in transport.
Useful links
SNCF website
www.sncf.com/fr
SNCF au Féminin
www.sncf.com/fr/engagements/sncf-au-feminin
© OECD/ITF 2018 21
Transport that meets diverse needs

Emma Mclennan, Director, Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport (EASST)
When the issue of gender is raised in relation to road safety, it is usually to point out that men are most
at risk. World Health Organization data suggests that globally 73% of all road fatalities are young males
aged under the age of 25, who are three times more likely to die in a road crash than young females. At
EASST, we suggest this perspective should be turned on its head: if roads, living spaces and transport
choices were designed by and to meet the needs of women, there would be far fewer casualties
altogether.
EASST - the Eastern Alliance for Safe and Sustainable Transport - is a network of local partner
organisations in 14 countries of Southern and Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia. Our
work covers all aspects of road safety and sustainable transport, including road safety management, safe
roads and vehicles, police enforcement, safer road users and effective post-crash response. In each
country we work very closely with all stakeholders to ensure maximum impact. This includes regularly
listening to the concerns of local communities in both urban and rural areas. We also conduct surveys to
underpin our project work.
Very similar patterns emerge across our EASST partner countries. First, roads are generally not designed
to be people-friendly. Pedestrians are normally an afterthought, and where pedestrian facilities exist
they are often insufficient. There is an underlying assumption that motorised transport is gender neutral
and available to all, and this is simply not the case. There is still a focus on enabling faster movements for
vehicles by building bigger and wider roads rather than controlling speeds and limiting the need for
private cars. This attitude is evident, too, in very short crossing times at traffic lights that make it near
impossible for elderly people (predominantly women), people with small children and people with
disabilities to cross safely. Crossing roads in many countries requires agility and quick feet!
In Tajikistan, supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), we surveyed
non-motorised road users in the centre of Dushanbe. Our partners the “Young Generation of Tajikistan”
counted pedestrians, drivers and passengers in cars and trucks. They found slightly more men on the
roads than women - who were around 45% of pedestrians. But women were less than a quarter (22%) of
all car occupants and only 5% of drivers were women. As passengers, women were more likely to be in
the back seat, where seat belts are generally missing. Our surveys and meetings found that what
concerns women in Dushanbe is the lack of accessible, convenient and safe crossings, along with the
uncontrolled high speeds and dangerous behaviour of many (mostly male) drivers.
In Kyrgyzstan, supported by the UK Embassy, we have been working with the Mayor and police to
identify the most dangerous road crossings in order to make Bishkek more pedestrian friendly. Our
partner “Road Safety PA” counted nearly 19 000 pedestrians crossing at five dangerous points – again,
just under half of them women. Pedestrians and community groups expressed precisely the same
concerns: crossings are too few and not safe, speeds are too high, drivers behave badly and there are no
safe alternatives. Cars rule the road.
In EASST partner countries, underpasses and bridges are often added to road designs in an attempt to
cater for pedestrians without affecting traffic speeds or impeding flows. Our work has found that almost
universally these are avoided by pedestrians – and for good reasons. Women tell us they are frightened
to use underpasses, particularly at night. They are often unlit and dark even during the day, so men avoid
them too for fear of being robbed. Unless they are well maintained and contain shops or other
22 © OECD/ITF 2018
attractions, they can be extremely dirty and subject to flooding. Without many public toilets available,
they may be used as open urinals. Bridges are mostly impossible for parents with pushchairs, elderly
people and people with limited mobility. In both underpasses and bridges, we have seen the installation
of lethal ramps that would defeat the most athletic Paralympian.
According to Carers Worldwide, globally 84% of carers are female. Our EASST partners in Moldova,
Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan have been interviewing people with disabilities and their caregivers to
find out how road safety impacts their lives. In Moldova, 40% of people with disabilities and care takers
found it very difficult to cross the road. In Belarus 59% have difficulty with the most basic journeys. In
Kyrgyzstan 93% of wheelchair users never use public transport due to difficulties with access. Broken
pavements and the lack of priority given to pedestrians was their number one complaint. In every
country, the life chances of people with disabilities and their caregivers have been restricted due to
unsafe roads and poor transport choices.
The ITF and OECD can play an important role in encouraging fresh thinking about who should be the
priority in road designs and transport. Evidence from around the globe shows that pedestrian-friendly,
female-friendly cities are good for tourism, good for local businesses, better for public health and can
have a positive impact on local communities and employment. Good starting points are to encourage the
involvement of more women in the design and planning process; encourage the implementation of
pedestrian-friendly design; assist local authorities with effective speed enforcement; promote accessible
and affordable public transport, with more female drivers; and ensure meaningful engagement with local
communities as part of all transport policy. ITF can do much to challenge the assumption that motor
vehicles should be the priority.
Useful link
EASST website
www.easst.co.uk
© OECD/ITF 2018 23
Women in transport: Safety and personal security

Muneeza Mehmood Alam, Economist, The World Bank
Although transport sector projects may at first appear to benefit everyone equally in a community, men
and women’s experiences with transport systems differ greatly, particularly when related to their safety
and personal security. Research shows high levels of violence, sexual harassment and sexual abuse
directed at women and girls in public transport and adjacent public spaces in many cities around the
world. For example, in Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt1, as high as 99.3 % of women surveyed reported
having experienced sexual harassment, most commonly in the form of touching or groping. The study
showed that streets and public transport are where women are most at risk. A study2 conducted in
Mumbai, India, showed that 80% of women faced sexual harassment in transport. Almost twice as many
women as men surveyed3 in London, UK, said they do not feel safe using London public transport.
However, only one-in-ten surveyed said they would report sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment in public transport can curtail women’s mobility and employability and can reduce
their earning options. This issue becomes even more critical since more women than men tend to
depend on public transport to meet their mobility needs. In many countries restricted mobility can
translate into girls missing schools, women not looking for jobs far away from homes, giving up their jobs
or being unable to access healthcare services. A recent study by the International Labor Organization
showed that “limited access to and safety of transportation is estimated to be the greatest obstacle to
women’s participation in the labour market in developing countries, reducing their participation
probability by 16.5 percentage points.”4 Promoting safe transport can benefit not only women but men,
girls and boys, and society in general. In fact, applying a gender perspective to transport projects can
positively benefit not only transport users but also service providers who can benefit in terms of revenue
generation and operational efficiency when they provide a gender-sensitive service.
The World Bank Group is increasingly addressing issues of personal security through its transport
projects. This approach is embedded in the Bank’s Gender Strategy (2016-23) and reflects the ambitions
of the Bank’s Transport and Digital Development (TDD) Global Practice Action Plan to support the
implementation of the Gender Strategy. For example, one of the Bank’s projects in Mexico, Hazme el
Paro, was designed to improve women’s mobility by addressing sexual harassment in public transport
through change of social norms, in a city where 65% of women have faced sexual harassment in public
transport and related spaces: the project included a marketing campaign that defined actions for
bystanders to follow so as to become interveners in a non-confrontational manner as well as a
community and sector training (bus drivers, policemen) and IT components, such as, installing Wi-Fi in
buses and making a mobile application available for reporting different kinds of sexual harassment. The
project resulted in changing behaviour of the public as reflected in their higher willingness to act against
instances of harassment, mainly by men and young people. The perception of risk increased by 15% in
the treatment group, which can be interpreted as a proxy for increase in awareness of the security
situation. In response to the findings of the User Satisfaction Survey of City Bus Services covering
12 cities of India, a project, which is currently under design in India, is putting in place measures to
improve personal security and safety for all passengers and particularly for women and girls.
The Bank is also co-ordinating efforts to advance gender equality with other institutions. For the first
time, gender was a focus of a major plenary session during the Bank’s annual Transforming
Transportation global forum, and a partnership was signed by the World Bank and the International
Association of Public Transport (UITP) to address gender issues in public transport globally. Under the
24 © OECD/ITF 2018
Memorandum of Understanding, the World Bank and the UITP have committed, amongst others, to
work together to address gender-based violence in public transport and to enhance female labour force
participation in the transport sector. Recently, UITP (in partnership with the World Bank) launched Public
Transport for Me (#PT4ME) campaign, which aims to advance the safety of women in public transport
and increase awareness about the issue.
The Bank has also been one of the driving forces of the Sustainable Mobility for All (SuM4All) initiative - a
global multi-stakeholder partnership created with an ambition of making mobility more sustainable. The
partnership, which also includes ITF, has produced the Global Mobility Report 2017, which is the first-
ever attempt to examine performance of the transport sector globally and which features gender as a
recognition that gender equality is an integral part of the sustainable mobility agenda.
The ITF can play a paramount role in promoting women’s safety and security in transport. With its
convening power, the ITF provides a unique platform to advance global dialogue on gender issues in
transport and to facilitate sharing knowledge among transport policy makers.
Useful links and literature

Advancing the safety of women in public transport #PT4ME
www.uitp.org/advancing-safety-women-public-transport-UITP-launches-PT4ME-campaign
SuM4All
www.sum4all.org/
1
Study on the Ways and Methods to Eliminate Sexual Harassment in Egypt, UN Women, 2013.
2
Survey conducted by We the People Foundation, 2012.
3
yougov.co.uk/news/2012/05/25/sexual-harassment-capital/
4
World Employment Social Outlook: Trends for Women 2017; International Labor Organization.
© OECD/ITF 2018 25
A safe city for women and girls is a safe city for

everyone
Sofia Salek de Braun, Solution Director Traffic Safety
Paulo Humanes, Head of Strategic Global Business Development, PTV Group
“The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but
to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights” - Gloria Steinem.
The "right of free movement" is linked to the "right to safe mobility" as part of the concept of basic
human rights. Everyone should be able to travel without fear of physical or verbal attack, regardless of
gender. But reality and documented research reveals that more than 80% of women and girls
experienced harassment in public. 80% of women are afraid of being harassed in public transportation,
which has a significant impact on their access to opportunities and their quality of life. More than 90% of
sexual harassment on public transport goes unreported. Fear of reporting, of being further embarrassed
or targeted again, often compounded by a lack of trust in the police and judicial systems, contributes to
this. In the absence of representative data due to the underreporting, this becomes to an “invisible”
problem, an open secret that everyone knows but does not recognise as an issue significant enough to
merit any particular intervention.
A lack of safe and secure transport reduces economic opportunities, reinforces poverty and increases
inequality. Considering this, decision makers and planners must rethink how their interventions are
contributing to the idea of women as equal citizens and their right to free and safe mobility in the city. It
is essential to include gender awareness in the infrastructure projects, seeing the individual embedded in
household, neighbourhood, region and broader society, as a part of the whole ecosystem. The mobility
patterns of men and women are different. All over the world, women are frequent and regular users of
public transport, they make more daily trips but travel shorter distances. This is because the majority of
women often work closer to home and are more likely to be employed part-time, or to work in
low-paying jobs. In many countries, they are less likely to have a driver’s license. As women continue to
be the primary caregivers, they are more likely to link or chain trips together, as a result of escorting
children to school or going to health care visits with them or other relatives.
At PTV Group, we have been involved in road safety projects for many years and are committed to the
European Road Safety Charter led by the European Commission. Together with more than
2 300 signatories from public and private entities, we have joined the road safety community to
implement measures that help reduce road fatalities all around the globe. Our software solutions can
model, simulate, analyse and optimise mobility ecosystems. With our tools, networks can be designed
more efficiently, and traffic planners and engineers can pay specific attention to safety and security
issues to identify and eliminate weak points. That is our core business, what we have been working on
for nearly 40 years. We ensure, for example, that evacuation and disaster management centres are
equipped with the right technologies that help save lives in case of an emergency, focus on public
transport services that address the needs of every community member, and develop pedestrian profiles
that reflect the diversity of people living in a neighbourhood.
In developing new software solutions that transform the way we think about transport, one of our
starting points is to empower women and girls through safe and secure mobility services without
perpetuating gender roles. For us, equitable transportation is not only a question of rights and inclusion,
but it is also imperative for sustainable urban growth.
26 © OECD/ITF 2018
There are two steps that can help reduce and prevent the extent of violence and harassment women
experience when using mobility services. The first step is to fill the informational void to create more
awareness for this urgent topic and to push it as a necessary part of a broader movement to combat
gender inequality at all echelons of society. The second step is to always include the gender perspective
in every urban planning project and the best way to ensure this is integrating women into the policy
making, decision making, and planning of urban transport systems, also increasing the number of women
working in transportation because a safe city for women and girls is a safe city for everyone.
Useful link
PTV Group website
www.ptvgroup.com/en/
© OECD/ITF 2018 27
Creating gendered mobility plans to enable safe

and secure transport: Challenges and ways
forward for India and Brazil
Sonal Shah, Senior Programme Manager, Institute for Transportation and Development
Policy (ITDP), India
Letícia Bortolon, Policy Co-ordinator, Brazil, ITDP
Sexual harassment and violence is a barrier to women’s mobility. While mainstream narratives focus on
gruesome incidents such as rape, gender violence also includes visual, verbal and physical abuse such as
groping, molestation, staring, stalking, stealing and cat calling. Yet, our mobility plans remain gender
blind as they do not measure women’s trip chaining patterns, the use of slower and inexpensive modes
of transport, constrained mobility, the level and extent of sexual harassment and violence, and limited
employment in the transport sector. This is a lost opportunity as around USD 28 trillion could be added
to the global economy by 2025, if women were to play an identical role to men in markets (MGI, 2015).
Women constitute 50% of the urban population with walking and public transport being their most
important means of travel, particularly for lower-income women. In São Paulo, Brazil, the gender and
class analysis of the Origin and Destination Survey of 2012 reveals that 74% of women's daily trips are
made by public transport or on foot. Among the poorest women, 50% of the trips were made by walking
and 28% by bus (City Hall of Sao Paulo, 2012).
The Census of India, for the first time in 2011, released data on the “Mode of Travel to Work” for those
not involved in agriculture and household industry. ITDP India and Safetipin’s policy brief on Women and
Transport in Indian Cities found that while 73% of urban work trips were by sustainable modes of
transport, women and girls’ share was only 14%. This could be due to urban women’s low workforce
participation and home-based work. Around 30% walked, only 3% cycled and 22% used buses, trains and
paratransit for work trips. Of the total work trips made by urban women, 84% were by public,
intermediate public and non-motorised modes of transport.
However, it is disturbing that streets and public transport are also perceived as being most vulnerable for
women and girls, with significant underreporting of sexual harassment and violence.
According to the research "Linha de Base", 86% of Brazilian women were harassed in public spaces and
44% in public transport. The situation was more alarming in the country’s biggest cities where 100% of
interviewed women in São Paulo and 66% in Rio suffered harassment in public transport (Actionaid,
2014). This, within a context where less than 5% of women reported cases of harassment, and according
to the Brazilian Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA), only 10% of women reported cases of
rape in 2013 (IPEA, 2013). ITDP Brazil’s study Women and Children's Access to the City, conducted focus
group discussions with low-income and black women in the outskirts of Recife's Metropolitan Area and
found that harassment was perceived an inevitable occurrence in women’s daily life. Women felt more
vulnerable, especially in streets and public spaces with only a few people around. They rated waiting at
the bus stop as the worst experience of the journey as the bus service was unreliable and infrequent,
located in single land-use zones, especially in the outskirts, which made them deserted.
Similarly, in India, while the National Crime Records Bureau reported that crimes against women had
increased from 8.8% (2007) to 11% (2014), research across multiple cities revealed significantly higher
instances of sexual harassment. In Delhi, a study with over 5 000 men and women in 2010 showed that
28 © OECD/ITF 2018
over 95% of the women had experienced harassment in the past year. Public transport, buses and
streets were identified as the most vulnerable spaces. While women of all ages faced some form of
violence or sexual harassment, school and college girl students in the 15-19 age-groups were the most
vulnerable (Jagori, 2010). In Mumbai too, 95% of the women respondents reported sexual harassment
and 69% reported facing harassment inside buses and waiting at bus stops (Akshara, 2016). ITDP India,
Safetipin and Janki Devi Memorial College’s upcoming publication on access to bus terminals in Delhi has
rated pedestrian infrastructure (availability of footpaths, surface quality, road safety and encroachment),
street lighting and gender diversity lowest in terms of their safety scores. Further, women’s access to a
basic public facility such as public toilets is restricted as these are locked, used as male toilets, for storage
or located close to garbage collection centres.
What can be done?
In India and Brazil, gender is not a core competence in local and metropolitan governments.
To address this gap, the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) has conducted
research to understand women and girls’ access and experience of streets and public transport. ITDP is
sensitising public authorities in collecting gender disaggregated mobility data, adopting gender
responsive goals and indicators in planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of public
policies and involving women’s groups in this process.
Some indicators include: (1) gender (and income) disaggregated data on people living within walking
distance of rapid transit and frequent city bus services in the city and metropolitan region; (2) gender
(and income) disaggregated travel mode shares in the city and metropolitan region; (3) gender (and
income) disaggregated data of users who rely on bus timetables; (4) percentage of major urban roads
with a dedicated right-of-way for bus-based public transport; and (5) state and city allocations and
expenditure on improving women and girls’ safety and security. These must be disaggregated by race,
religion and caste depending on the context.
ITDP, in alignment with the New Urban Agenda, supports solutions to enable women and girls’ right to
mobility and access to social and economic opportunities. We recommend the following initiatives: (1)
co-ordinated planning between mobility, land use and employment with mixed uses and affordable
housing; (2) promotion and expansion of sustainable transport that considers women and girls’ practical
needs and strategic interests; (3) adoption of street design that promotes road safety, facilitates
universal accessibility and equitably distributes road space among all users; (4) development and
implementation of security policies to reduce sexual harassment and gender-based violence; and (5)
reallocation of resources towards sustainable and equitable cities.
Useful links
Akshara (2016), Empowering women’s mobility: A program with transport systems, Mumbai: Akshara
www.aksharacentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Akshara-Transport-Report.pdf
The power of parity: How advancing women’s equality can add $12 trillion to global growth
www.mckinsey.com
Secretaria Municipal de Desenvolvimento Urbano: Prefeitura de São Paulo (2016), A mobilidade das mulheres na
cidade de São Paulo
smul.prefeitura.sp.gov.br/informes_urbanos/pdf/39.pdf
Shah, S., V. Kalpana, V. Sonali and G. Shreya (2017), Women and Transport in Indian Cities. New Delhi: ITDP India
and Safetipin
www.itdp.org/women-and-transport-indian-cities
© OECD/ITF 2018 29
Women and walking: Safety and security

Bronwen Thornton, Development Director, Walk21
Jim Walker, Strategic Director, Walk21
Walking is our fundamental “mode of movement”. For centuries it has been the foundation mode for our
transport systems, underpinning our individual health and connection to community. Everyone walks and
nearly every journey includes walking. In most communities, walking is how people access their local
services, including public transport for longer journeys. Walking is typically between 20-65% of all trips
yet it rarely receives the recognition, funding, infrastructure or space required. Facilities are substandard
but people walk because they have to or out of sheer personal determination and it is women who suffer
disproportionately in these situations.
Women walk more than men and tend to make more off-peak and non-work related trips. Women are
more vulnerable to violence and harassment in public spaces. Often, women modify their behaviour to
feel safe walking, e.g. don’t walk at night or alone or talk on the phone while walking. Women are more
likely to influence the travel choices of their entire family and are more inclined to adopt sustainable
modes: women cite that they would like to walk more but do not feel able.
Women tend to have daily patterns of activity that are more complex and multi-purpose than men,
including trip-chains for childcare, paid work, household chores and elderly care. In many communities
(across all socio-economic groups) these distances are often short and easily accessible by walking. But
the data shows that when women have a choice, they choose not to walk due to poor street design or
complete lack of sidewalks, personal time constraints and lack of personal safety. Where women have no
choice but to walk, they are vulnerable to a lack of personal security and road safety while using the
transport network and local streets. Women have a right to a safe place to walk, for both themselves and
their children.
Walkable neighbourhoods with connected, good public transport services are the foundations of a cost
and time efficient, green, clean, equitable and vibrant city. When pedestrians and the gender differences
in travel patterns are considered and made visible in the planning and delivery of projects and
infrastructure, streets and public spaces can be made safe, attractive, equitable and even enjoyable for
everyone. Designing neighbourhoods that are inviting for women not only enables women to walk but
supports those who already do.
This is particularly true for journeys to access public transport. Women report feeling unsafe, both on
public transport and during the journey to and from stations. Increasingly, public transport operators are
recognising walking as essential for an effective public transport system and are investing in walkable
catchments around their stops and stations, taking responsibility for their riders' safety, security, comfort
and ease of access to their services as well as the punctuality and frequency of the service itself. High
quality walkability is one of the most affordable solutions and gives some of the best returns when
wishing to increase ridership, service satisfaction and enhance mobility equity for women and the poor,
young, elderly and less-able too.
The lack of walkability in our cities, increasing motorisation and subsequent decline in the amount of
time people are choosing to walk in middle- to high-income countries, has negative consequences for
public health too. The World Health Organization recognises everyday walking as a critical component
for realising better physical activity outcomes for everyone and especially women (e.g. bone density or
balance). A walkable city increases physical activity for everyone but especially women. Gender based
30 © OECD/ITF 2018
activity inequality is highest in non-walkable communities. Investment in walkability is a very practical

way to reduce the gender gap in physical activity inequalities and enable more women (and their
children) to move more.
Walking and walkable neighbourhoods are fundamental to delivering not only the New Urban Agenda,
but many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well. Walking is primarily captured in SDG 11 -
Sustainable cities and communities: safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all,
improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of
those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons. But it can
also offer tangible outcomes for: SDG 1 - access to basic resources; SDG 3 - health: road traffic crashes,
non-communicable diseases and mental health; SDG 5 - gender equality: especially violence against
women in the public sphere; SDG 9 - infrastructure: quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient
infrastructure, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all; and SDG13 - climate action: a
low-carbon mode. Walking has always been about more than transport.
Walk21 is the international organisation championing the needs of people walking and promoting
walkability. In collaboration with partners around the world, Walk21 provides the International Charter
for Walking as a common framework for inspiring political commitment; has measurement tools to help
make walking more visible; policy guidelines, resources and training, and the annual international
conference series as a place for experts to share their experiences and promote best practices. Through
a global network of experts, Walk21 celebrates walking and actively encourages a more walkable future
for everyone.
Working with ITF, Walk21 will continue to focus on daylighting the importance of walking, and the need
for safe, comfortable and attractive walkable communities that are inviting to women. Better data to
understand women’s travel patterns, needs and expectations is essential - especially in low- and middle-
income cities. Countries and cities are seeking clear policy guidance and asking for support to both
establish a vision, to recognise the economic value of walkability, ensure delivery of the best
infrastructure where people walk the most and to evaluate outcomes. Together we can increase the
visibility of walking and realise the value it has for society and especially women.
Useful link
Walk21 website
www.walk21.com/
© OECD/ITF 2018 31
Ending the harassment “nightmare”

Sheila Watson, Director of Environment and Research, FIA Foundation
Mass transit is important for achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to reduce
poverty and protect the planet and contributes to the quality of life of urban citizens. Indeed, public
transport is the only way to efficiently move large numbers of people around cities; between their
homes and places of work, study, shops, public services or leisure. However, the stark headline in the
New York Post from October 2017, “Public transportation is a nightmare for women everywhere”, brings
into focus the scale of changes needed to embed sustainable, low carbon mass transit as a safe and
attractive option for everyone in cities. The conclusion, based on evidence from around the world, shows
that the status quo cannot continue - there needs to be a fundamental culture change to design
transport systems with women in mind.
Women are majority users of public transport, and depend heavily on these systems for their mobility
needs as they frequently do not own or have access to private vehicles. However, there is a growing
body of evidence that many women simply do not feel safe while using public transport. For women and
girls, sexual harassment and other gender-related forms of violence are important concerns, which can
be multiplied further by their role as caregivers as they may travel accompanying children or other
adults.
Harassment covers a wide range of behaviours of a threatening or offensive nature, which extend from
unwanted attention to physical or sexual assault. This is a global issue, repeated in cities all around the
world – from New York to Lima; Cape Town to Delhi. In Latin America alone, six-in-ten women say they
have been physically harassed while using public transport. Addressing women’s concerns about
personal security on and around public transport are at the heart of achieving sustainable mobility.
The FIA Foundation in partnership with CAF (Latin American Development Bank) has been supporting a
research programme on this issue, working with teams in South Africa and Latin America. The first stage
of the study, the Safe and Sound report included a global literature review of women’s safety and
personal security on and around urban public transport systems and developed a case study
methodology in conjunction with the University of Cape Town. The second phase, Ella se mueve segura
(She Moves Safely) applied this approach to investigate personal security and the emotional impact of
(sexual) harassment in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Santiago, Chile; and Quito, Ecuador.
The research teams found similar results in the cities investigated – and typically 70% of women in the
Ella se mueve segura study reported feeling unsafe while using public transport. This is unacceptable.
Women report feeling particularly insecure while getting to and from public transport as well as having
to travel in overcrowded carriages, travelling alone, or at night when few people travel. As a result, many
may change their travel patterns, choosing not to travel alone, or taking more expensive forms of
transport such as taxis or simply not to travel outside their neighbourhoods. In Buenos Aires seven out of
ten women reported harassment has affected their travel behaviour, compared with just two out of ten
men. In Santiago, 95% of those interviewed said that they had observed harassment, and 85% had
directly experienced it themselves on public transport.
One major issue is lack of action and effective reporting mechanisms. Despite these events recurring
frequently, they are largely ignored by transport authorities, operators and society at large. One woman
in Ecuador told a focus group: “It’s hard for anyone to help you, normally no one does.” Few victims file
32 © OECD/ITF 2018
complaints due to a lack of trust in the system and fear of reprisal. Low levels of reporting are reinforced
by this lack of action against allegations.
The Ella se mueve segura report identifies a number of actions that cities can take, starting with
developing inclusive transport policies that focus on making public spaces safe and secure. This can
include infrastructure and operational improvements, public awareness campaigns, better security with
CCTV and trained staff and improved lighting combined with a zero tolerance approach to harassment. It
also suggests collecting and analysing gender disaggregated data for the design of the public transport
system, promoting women’s participation and leadership in the transport sector, and including local
communities in service design.
Of course, men have a role to play too. The study shows that men also share many of the same concerns
about safety, comfort, affordability, convenience and fear of theft or violent robbery. In the focus
groups, men showed an awareness that these incidents occur to women, but fewer will change their
travel behaviour as a result of an incident compared with men. Public transport systems that are safer
for women will be safer for everyone. Cultural change involves everyone, but can be supported by clear
protocols, education and protective measures which make it clear that incidents are not acceptable and
will be dealt with.
By using the important role women play at a community and family level, women can become catalysts
in achieving sustainable urban mobility. Public transport systems enable everyone to participate in
vibrant, flourishing and inclusive cities. Changing the way that transport is planned to better include the
needs of women will be transformational both for women and for urban transport. It will also unlock
economic development – CAF estimate that improving women’s participation in the workplace could add
34% to the region’s GDP. This includes women working in the transport sector and taking leadership
roles.
The #MeToo movement has shown that women are willing to step out and take a stand against
harassment and violence. The ITF, together with other transport partners, need to do the same and
actively support governments and transport authorities around the world to design systems with the
needs of women in mind, so all women can travel safely without fear of harassment.
Useful links
“Safe and Sound” Report
www.fiafoundation.org/connect/publications/safe-and-sound
“She Moves Safely” Report
www.fiafoundation.org/connect/publications/ella-se-mueve-segura she-moves-safely
© OECD/ITF 2018 33
Safety and security for women in transport

Allison Wylie, Transportation and Mobility Policy, Uber
Nearly one-in-three women worldwide have experienced sexual assault and/or domestic violence in their
lifetime. It happens everywhere. In our homes, our schools, our workplaces, and even in our public
spaces, like on city streets and while traveling. Sexual assault and harassment is a global issue that has
ripple effects that can last a lifetime, not only for the person impacted but for entire families and
communities.
The statistics are staggering, and the painful truth is that our Uber platform and community are not
immune to these societal problems. We want to be part of the solution and are committed to using our
reach and visibility to help drive awareness, education and prevention of sexual assault and domestic
violence to millions globally. This is why we are taking a multi-faceted approach that includes actively
working with experts to shed light on these issues with the goal of helping to prevent them. And
leveraging our technology and networks to improve accountability and build empathy.
Uber started by making a USD 5 million commitment over five years that will help fund programmatic
partnerships focused on prevention. We’ve partnered with Raliance, National Network to End Domestic
Violence, NO MORE, and the Women of Color Network, Inc. to help drive awareness, education, and
prevention of sexual and domestic violence globally. And in collaboration with these partners, we’ve
developed awareness and prevention messaging and are using our global scope and scale through our
in-app technology to inform millions of riders and drivers.
Additionally, through partnerships with the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence and the National
Network to End Domestic Violence we are also improving internal practices and educating the Uber
team, including our customer support agents, on this sensitive societal issue.
We also think that technology can help to alleviate the burden from those affected, help law
enforcement to investigate reports of crime, and hold people accountable for their behaviour. Below are
some of the ways we are using technology to increase accountability for crimes committed on our app:
 All trips arranged in-app: With Uber, all trips must be arranged via the app - so there is no
anonymity for the people in the car together.
 GPS tracking: GPS tracking for every trip means that there is a record for the exact time and
location of trips - providing accurate, objective information that can be crucial to law
enforcement investigations.
 Driver and rider feedback: By asking riders and drivers for feedback for every trip, we encourage
and facilitate incident reporting. If someone has violated our Community Guidelines, we can put
their account on hold while we investigate, which removes their ability to access Uber.
 Law enforcement outreach: We have a team of former law enforcement professionals who are
on call to work with police 24/7 to respond to urgent needs and walk them through how we can
assist in an investigation. This team works to proactively educate law enforcement about how to
reach us and get the information they need through valid legal processes, and engages them
regularly. The team also receives and manages these requests.
34 © OECD/ITF 2018
 Law enforcement online portal: In March 2017, Uber launched a law enforcement web portal to
make the process of obtaining information in guidance with the law easier, faster and more
secure for our partners in law enforcement. Here’s a video we created about how it works.
Our plan is to continue to listen, learn, collaborate and build on our commitment to prevent sexual
assault and domestic violence, especially as it relates to the transportation space. We join organisations
around the world that are also working on this very important issue and think great progress can be
made through collaborative efforts and forums like the ITF. Uber chooses not to remain silent, but to join
other leading corporations and organisations pioneering efforts. We are committed to working as a part
of a larger community, and believe that together, we can end sexual assault and domestic violence.
Useful links
Uber – Community Guidelines
www.uber.com/legal/community-guidelines/us-en/
Raliance
www.raliance.org/
National Network to End Domestic Violence
nnedv.org/
NO MORE
nomore.org/
Women of Color Network, Inc.
www.wocninc.org/
© OECD/ITF 2018 35
Creating gender-sensitive public transport for

women
Larissa Zeichhardt, CEO, LAT Funkanlagen-Service GmbH
Safety and security for women in public transport is soon going to become a prerequisite of any effective
transport system rather than a unique “selling point”. If advancing women’s equality can add
USD 12 trillion to global growth (McKinsey, Power of Parity), and ultimately improve the GDP by 2025,
then we must acknowledge that getting women to work safely will be critical to closing gender gaps in
work and society.
Safety will play a key role in attractiveness, and hence the economy of public transport. Shortly after
Singapore announced a freeze of vehicle count in 2018, Roland Berger published the much quoted study
on "Urban Mobility 2030” which revealed that public transport will be under huge pressure from
autonomous driving vehicles (low-cost taxis in particular), and that an upsurge of single unit transport,
and hence road combustion, is almost inevitable. Why would women share an unsafe transport unit if
cost and skills are no longer a prerequisite to using a car?
“Gender makes a world of difference for safety on public transport “summarises a study published by
“The Conversation” and reveals the sad truth - urban environments are not gender-neutral. As much as
we would like to think that first world cities have put assault behind them, we are far from being as
technologically advanced as countries where public transport is safe, actions are traceable, let alone
proven or penalised. It is due to the scale and transitory nature of trams, trains, buses, taxis and
ride-sharing services that perpetrators have a close and anonymous proximity to their targets. This
circumstance can change for single service units when autonomous driving becomes conventional. For
shared services however, harassment claims have only been proven to decrease, when a combination of
awareness campaigns and technical solutions were chosen, according to Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG,
Berlin Transport Company).
Nicole Kalms, Director of XYX Lab and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Architecture at Monash
University, argues that if public transport providers try to solve the issue of travellers’ personal safety
only through communication it may not always bring positive outcomes. Results of her studies indicate
that women are internalising the message that safety from sexual harassment is solely their
responsibility. By advising commuters to regulate their behaviour to stay safe (i.e. travellers are
encouraged to sit with other passengers, use the carriage closest to the driver’s cabin, and avoid
extended waiting times, etc.) operators fail to acknowledge the role of gender in public transport safety.
It also affects passengers who do not feel safe as they become oversensitive to their surroundings.
Results of our own installations - LAT has over 20 years of experience in integrating security systems -
show that the provision of CCTV cameras and alarm buttons is important and have an immediate effect.
The effect is one of a “warning eye”, as numbers show that after the installation of video surveillance
fewer assaults are being reported. We cannot, however, say that the surveillance systems help to track,
and catch criminals. This is partly due to local regulations, such as the amount of time data is stored and
the extent to which people are recognisable. If recorded data is deleted within 72 hours of the event, it is
of no help if an assault is, as is often the case, reported weeks later.
From a technical point of view, I believe we must address the fact that safety measures are still
generalised and gender-blind. There is still a lack of research into how transport environments contribute
36 © OECD/ITF 2018
to sexual harassment - a gap we should close by using material from surveillance systems. But
technology cannot solve it all. It is crucial to listen to both travellers and transport employees as well.
Whilst I believe safe transport is something all humans are entitled to, we know that women are, by role
and nature, more likely to move between multiple destinations throughout their daily commute. It is
hence crucial to create gender-sensitive, safe and accessible public transport spaces.
Useful links
Berger, R., “Urban Mobility 2030”
www.rolandberger.com/en/Publications/pub_urban_mobility_2030.html
The Conversation, “Gender makes a world of difference for safety on public transport”
theconversation.com/gender-makes-a-world-of-difference-for-safety-on-public-transport-80313
Smartcity, 2nd International Urban Mobility Dialogue, Program
www.smartcity-dialogues.com/program/
Brandeins Ausgabe (2017) - Schwerpunkt Frauen / Männer
Wie führen Frauen? Vier Unternehmerinnen geben Auskunft. (How Women Lead)
www.brandeins.de/magazine/brand-eins-wirtschaftsmagazin/2017/frauen-maenner/wie-fuehren-frauen
Titelthema der Berliner Wirtschaft
Die Fabrik in der Stadt (Urban City Production)
© OECD/ITF 2018 37
The RATP perspective on safety and security for

women in transport
Jean Agulhon, Deputy CEO in charge of Human Resources and Social
Innovation, RATP Group
To establish ourselves as the preferred partner of smart and sustainable cities, the RATP group is
committed to greater gender inclusiveness and is pursuing an ambitious goal to increase the number of
women in its sectors in order to improve creativity and innovation within its teams. Indeed, gender
inclusiveness, and more globally diversity, are a real asset for better understanding customer
expectations and conquering new markets.
Initiated in 2017 as part of the 2025 Challenges strategic plan, the RATP women's programme (“RATP au
féminin”) is one of the vectors of this collective commitment to advance gender inclusiveness within
organisations. The proposed measures are organised around conferences on various topics (combating
stereotypes, unconscious biases, etc.), brainstorming workshops (helping to integrate women into
teams), internal and external communication actions aimed at promoting talent by highlighting women's
exemplary careers, setting up networks for the sharing of good practices, participating in external
conferences, etc.
By making “gender inclusiveness marketing” a major focus of its HR policy, RATP group is giving itself
every opportunity to attract talented young professionals who are both sensitive to issues of justice and
social diversity and also contribute to reducing violence and sexism in public transport by diversifying
ways of thinking and cultural references.
Carrying 16 million people every day by metro, bus or tram in 14 countries around the world is a
constant, daily challenge for RATP group.
Passenger safety is a central concern for the group, which is one of the few mobility operators in the Ile-
de-France region to have an integrated security department with more than 1,000 dedicated staff.
During their operational work, these security agents are supported by 50,000 video surveillance cameras
on-board the equipment (metro, RER suburban line, bus and tram) or installed in public spaces such as
bus stations. All new generation or refurbished trains have video equipment with images that can be
viewed by the driver or not, depending on the equipment type, and which are recorded on hard disks.
RATP group is a pioneer in the video protection field. Indeed, the first cameras installed in metro and
railway stations date back to the 1970s.
In addition to technological innovations that help implement passenger safety, RATP group can count on
the professionalism of its employees, who are committed on a daily basis to being welcoming and
attentive to everyone. Since 2016, it has trained all its employees in contact with passengers in dealing
with victims of violence and harassment. A specific module, provided as part of initial training, has been
developed in partnership with “Miprof”(Inter-ministerial task force for protecting women against
violence and combating human trafficking).
RATP group employees also participate in numerous prevention operations aimed at creating or
maintaining links between themselves and people using networks or residing nearby. These operations
are organised by RATP group in cooperation with municipalities, neighbourhood associations and the
French Ministry of Education. This includes, for example, raising awareness among school children of the
38 © OECD/ITF 2018
need to respect and make proper use of public transport as well as the running of communication
campaigns on vigilance behaviour to be adopted in public transport.
RATP group networks’ female passengers are provided with specific measures. For example, in order to
reduce feelings of insecurity, the company organises “fact-finding walkabouts”. Through this measure,
RATP group gathers its customers' points of view, perceptions and concerns about the layout of spaces.
Women participants, who are all volunteers, assess the overall environment of a station, the way people
walk through it, the way equipment is arranged and used and prevailing feelings of cleanliness and
security. On the basis of the findings obtained through this "female customer" perspective, RATP group
takes action to improve the environment and experience of travelling throughout its spaces.
RATP group also supports citizens' initiatives to combat feelings of insecurity. This is the case, for
example, of the "Mon Chaperon" digital application which allows users to share their journeys on foot.
Launched in 2016, this application provides users with a complementary "door-to-door" mobility offer
for their daily journeys by public transport. After creating a profile, passengers can enter information
about their journey (starting point, destination(s) and time) to make journeys on foot in pairs or as a
group. Users can send messages to each other via a secure internal messaging system to organise their
journey together. In addition to sharing journeys on foot, the application, which is free of charge, allows
users' friends or family to monitor their journeys in real time and automatically inform them once they
arrive at their destination. In addition, users also have an alert button allowing them to warn the
emergency services and their friends or family in the event of a problem.
In March 2018, in partnership with the Île-de-France region and Île-de-France Mobilités, RATP group ran
a communication campaign throughout its network to raise travellers' awareness regarding harassment
and inform them of the tools available for reporting harassment situations (e.g. alert numbers 3117 and
SMS 31177, and the 3117 application).
More recently, at the end of June 2018, the RATP group signed two charters on combating stereotyped
advertising: the UDA (Union Des Annonceurs) charter in the context of their FAIRE programme and the
City of Paris commitment charter. In both cases, this involves the Group participating in putting an end to
the displaying and/or creation of sexist advertisements either as an advertiser or as an advertising
publisher.
© OECD/ITF 2018 39
Women Mobilize Women

Conference summary, Leipzig, 22 May 2018 (Pre-Summit Day), Deutsche Gesellschaft
für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
With the first Women Mobilize Women Conference, the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI)
kicked off the debate on the role and potential of women in sustainable urban mobility. The conference
was not only about mobilising women in terms of enhancing sustainable travel, but also about women’s
empowerment in the economy and society. Many delegates noted that for the first time they attended a
conference where all panellists and moderators were female.
Mobility experts - such as Robin Chase, founder of ZipCar, or the Hon. Julie Anne Genter, Minister of
Women and Associate Minister of Transport and Health of New Zealand - highlighted the importance of
the conference theme. More than 200 participants from 42 countries and 22 speakers from 18 countries
attended the event with enthusiasm - by women and for women.
“When women plan transport, transport is planned for all.” This powerful quote proved to be an
inspiration to all participants. The debates featured accessibility, gender inequality and violence, health
and the relevance of gender-based planning in transport.
Many speakers highlighted that attracting more women to the sector is key. This could be done through
education - encouraging girls to study the lucrative science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM) fields. Role models are also key, as they can boost the confidence and ability of young
professionals to participate in the transport sector.
Participants shared their personal experience, highlighting the struggle of women in the sector to tackle
challenges and constraints to bring about a change in transport system. Esenam Nyador shared her
experience as Ghana's first female taxi driver and proved her courage to start a revolution among
women in her country to drive local buses and taxis. In her powerful speech Gisela Méndez, former
Minister of Transport, Colima, Mexico, talked about her painful experience of facing gender-based
violence herself due to lack of support. Sofia Salek de Braun, Solution Director for Traffic Safety at the
PTV Group shared how her personal experience triggered a motivation to promote road safety. She
highlighted how important it is to take into consideration gender-based aspects while designing and
planning transport.
Amanda Ngabirano, a lecturer of urban and regional planning at Makerere University, Uganda, argued
that a revolutionary socio-cultural change is required to foster a resilient environment for women in
transport.
A socio-cultural change is required not only in the minds of men, but also in the minds of the women.
Awareness-raising to make this shift happen was another key conference message.
Women all over the world associate mobility with freedom, and nurturing this feeling through transport
planning with a gender lens is becoming urgent. In the concluding session one of participants stated:
“This conference gave me inspiration and fire, taught me perseverance to continue working harder at
what I was doing”.
On the occasion on the Women Mobilize Women Conference, six Latin-American female transport and
mobility leaders signed the joint declaration “MujeresenMovimiento” to encourage the inclusion of
women in decision making, planning, operation of transport, public mobility policies, infrastructure and
the execution of projects oriented towards the development of sustainable mobility. The signatories
40 © OECD/ITF 2018
launched a network of women in mobility (“Women Mobilize Women”) to develop and share
experiences to encourage women’s leadership in transport from political, private and civil society
sectors.
Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa are priority regions for TUMI. As a next Women Mobilize Women
event, TUMI supports the first Eastern Africa Women in Transport (WIT) Conference, organised by the
Flone Initiative, on November 22 and 23, 2018. TUMI fosters its activities for women empowerment by
contributing to the CEPAL Cities Conference in October in Santiago de Chile, where the first meeting and
training session of the #MujeresenMovimiento Latin America Network will take place.
Useful links
Transformative Urban Mobility
transformative-mobility.org
Eastern Africa Women in Transportation Conference
eastafricawitconference.com/
Flone Initiative
www.floneinitiative.org/
© OECD/ITF 2018 41
Safe and secure transport for women

Summary of the 2018 ITF Summit session, 24 May 2018, Leipzig
The ITF Summit session on Safe And Secure Transport For Women explored the importance of providing
women with safety and security across all modes of transport and aimed to assess the current level of
gender equality in the sector.
The discussions focused on the various implemented measures to address women’s transport needs and
what governments can do to improve women’s safety.
Julie Anne Genter, Minister for Women, Associate Minister for Transport and Associate Minister for
Health, from New Zealand stressed that transport has a need for a gender lens. Governments and all
stakeholders need to work together towards improving gender equality in transport as it has been such a
male dominated filed and sector; it hasn’t always meet the needs of women.
State Secretary Mattias Landgren, Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation, from Sweden highlighted that
Sweden declares its government as a “Feminist government”, which is committed to integrating a
gender-equality perspective into decision making both nationally and internationally and resource
allocation. He insisted that transport systems be designed to meet the travel needs of women and men.
All levels of governance have to be gender-balanced and a lot of work still has to be done in the private
sector.
K. Jane Williams, U.S. Acting Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, highlighted that public
transport around the world is essential to economic activity, yet women and girls have their daily access
to public transport restricted by harassment and assault. In the United States, the Department of
Transportation (US DOT) has started a number of education and training programmes to make sure that
when complaints are made, transit workers know how to respond. She also highlighted concrete
solutions such as designing stations to be well-lit and host commercial activities. Overall, the US DOT
aims to build an economically compelling case by leveraging a growing body of research that outlines
bottom-line benefits to transport systems that have greater numbers of women.
Although crime statistics show that railway is a safe environment, Maria Fiorentino (COLPOFER) noted it
is important that personal perspectives and attitudes towards fear still need to be addressed. Dinah
Omenefa (Papua New Guinea Department of Transport) added that safety in transport is one of the
barriers to engaging women in economic activity in her country.
The speakers agreed that several approaches are required to reduce transport risks for women, stressing
the importance of co-operation among stakeholders, education and training of transport employees,
increasing public awareness, and the use of digital technology. The speakers also highlighted a need to
attract young, talented female professionals into the field.
The session also featured a number of practices and experiences in working with local stakeholders to
promote safe and secure transport for women. José Luis Irigoyen (The World Bank) argued that transport
is not gender neutral and the World Bank is working to increase awareness in many countries across the
world and help bring women’s perspectives into the planning and design of infrastructure.
Sheila Watson (FIA Foundation) stated that women use public transport more than men and are more
likely to change their modes of transport when there are better alternatives. Hence, women could
42 © OECD/ITF 2018
continue to be the majority users of new emerging modes, including shared mobility. There is still
confusion on what to do when harassment happens.
Sonal Shah (Institute of Transportation and Development Policy) raised the issue of how despite the
increase in awareness of women’s safety in public spaces and transport, gender is still not considered
when cities are developing their long-term transport and investment plans. ITDP is working with
“Safetipin” (a personal safety mobile application) to develop a policy brief to provide guidelines for
governments. It is important to ensure that women’s views are being considered and inclusive plans are
developed by a diverse group of stakeholders.
Elisabeth Kotthaus (European Commission) noted the importance of sharing good practices among all
stakeholders. As an example, she presented the Commission’s Women in Transport – EU Platform for
Change, which was developed to assist women working in the transport sector and to encourage more
women to join the sector.
In conclusion, speakers highlighted the importance of stakeholders’ co-operation and exchange of good
practices in order to create a more inclusive and sustainable transport for all.
Speakers:
 Maria Cristina Fiorentino, Secretary General, COLPOFER (Collaboration des services de police
ferroviaire et de sécurité); Security Manager, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (Italian Railways)
 José Luis Irigoyen, Senior Director Transport and Digital Development, Global Practice, The World
Bank
 Mattias Landgren, State Secretary, Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation, Sweden
 Sonal Shah, Senior Programme Manager, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
(ITDP)
 Sheila Watson, Deputy Director and Director of Environment and Research, FIA Foundation
 K. Jane Williams, Acting Administrator, Federal Transit Administration (FTA), United States
 Ali Aslan, Moderator, TV Host and Journalist
Useful links
ITF 2018 Summit
2018.itf-oecd.org/safe-secure-transport-women
Ng, W.-S. and A. Acker (2018), “Understanding Urban Travel Behaviour by Gender for Efficient and Equitable
Transport Policies”, International Transport Forum Discussion Paper, no. 2018/01. OECD Publishing, Paris.
https://doi.org/10.1787/eaf64f94-en.
© OECD/ITF 2018 43
Women’s Safety and Security
This compendium assembles voices from the transport sector on the

critical issue of safety for women in public transport and transport
more generally. Surveys show that most women who use public
transport feel exposed to physical or verbal aggression, sexual
harassment and other forms of violence or unwelcome behavior,
leading to personal stress and physical harm.
As women rely on public transport for access to employment,
education and other public services, making it hard for them to be
mobile also reinforces inequality.
Published: 10/2018 | Photo credit: PEXEL/Life Of Pix
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