Women and girls around the world are subjected to and terrified of a wide range of sexual violence in public, from inappropriate remarks and unwanted touching to rape and femicide. This unfortunate reality restricts the freedom of movement of women and girls. It limits their participation in schools, jobs, and public life. It restricts their access to crucial services, as well as their enjoyment of cultural and recreational activities, and has a negative influence on their health and well-being.

Women and girls, despite constituting half of the population, are given a raw deal when it comes to city design: according to surveys, approximately 97% of women in the UK aged 18-24 have complained of sexual harassment in public spaces, while in Ireland, more than half of women surveyed say they feel unsafe on public transportation after dark. According to SEED, women and girls in Kurdistan face sexual harassment in many different settings, including on the street, online, in taxis, at schools, and in the workplace.This causes women to internalize fear, which stops them from participating in life-sustaining activities like going to school, socializing, and etc. The Directorate for Combatting Violence Against Women in the KRG received 1,044 reports of sexual harassment or abuse in the month of June 2021 alone.

The Directorate for Combatting Violence Against Women in the KRG received 1,044 reports of sexual harassment or abuse in the month of June 2021 alone.

UNDP administrator Achim Steiner has explained that achieving gender equity is important for each one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals; “when cities are largely designed without considering the diverse needs and insights of women of all ages and identities, this can have an adverse impact not only on their lives, but on their families.” The United Nations has issued a report advocating for radical changes to urban planning, particularly the inclusion of women in this process. When women are encouraged and provided with a secure environment, they are more likely to participate in public life. When women are encouraged and provided with a secure environment, they are more likely to participate in public life.

By: Baniz Wasman