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General Overview

Type of stakeholder

EICS Framework

Region of Reference

Africa
Asia
Australia
Europe
North-America
South-America
World

Description

In order to bring perpetrators to justice and decrease sexual harassment and assault, it is essential that incidents be reported as soon as possible by both victims and bystanders. A hotline is a number that is assigned exclusively to reporting incidents. It can be both an emergency or a non-emergency hotline number, with either a police number or an independent number established by the transport authority that links to police via them.

A hotline entails that the calls will be immediately received, and a mechanism is already in place to follow up on the complaints.

Facts/Illustrations/Case studies

Transport for London specifies very clearly what constitutes sexual harassment on the public transport network, what to report and what to do if one witnesses harassment. Once an incident is reported and the police have decided it is a crime, an assigned police officer helps through the process. Victims or witnesses can report an incident on the bus network at www.met.police.uk, text British Transport Police on 61016, call 0800 40 50 40 or report online at www.btp.police.uk
Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) anti-harassment campaign states that if one’s immediate safety is threatened, they can call 911 right away or request assistance from a CTA employee who can also call for police or emergency assistance. One can report incidents that are non-life-threatening to CTA Customer Service 1-888-YOUR-CTA (1-888-968-7282), and can also choose to file a police report by calling the local police non-emergency hotline for the municipality in which the incident occurred (311, if in Chicago) or by visiting a nearby police station. CTA provides service in Chicago and more than 30 neighboring communities.
In 2021, São Paulo Transporte (the city’s public transport company) extended the use of their toll-free passenger helpline to also serve women experiencing harassment or an observer wishing to report harassment to receive assistance. The person was connected with a female operator trained to handle violence against women. Twenty-six complaints were made during the 3-month campaign and shows other countries how to enhance existing systems to benefit female passenger safety.

Types of Impact

To/from the stop/station/rank✓
Waiting for train/bus/paratransit✓
In the vehicle✓
At interchanges✓

This intervention impacts all areas in the transport network.

Day-time travel✓
Night-time travel✓
Peak-time travel✓
Off peak-time travel✓

All travel time categories could be positively impacted by this intervention.

Bus✓
Train✓
Rideshare✓
4 wheelers informal✓
3 wheelers informal✓
2 wheelers informal✓
Cycling✓
Walking✓

All modes of transport can be affected by this intervention.

Girls✓
Boys✓
Adult Women✓
Men✓
Elderly Women✓
LGBTQI+✓

This intervention does not target specific demographic groups only, but will impact all travelers in the system.

Resources

Monetary Resource Requirements
The initial set-up cost for this intervention is relatively low, but there will be ongoing expenses to keep the hotline manned and up and running.
Capital Cost Requirements Operational Cost Requirements
Non-Monetary Resource Requirements
Although some skills are required for initial setup and management of the intervention, on the whole the non-monetary resource requirements to implement and operate a hotline is not highly resource intensive.
Skills Time Political Will

SWOT Analysis

Scalable to suit a wide range of budgets
Rollout can be fast and effective
Stable technology with much experience to learn from globally

System is only effective if those receiving the calls are adequately trained and have the capacity to respond immediately and appropriately
Less effective in the context of informal transport without number plates and recognition identity

Reduction in criminal activities more broadly
Can aid existing law enforcement agencies to exercise their mandate more effectively and efficiently
Can be used as a mapping tool for place, time and types of incidence occurence

In larger cities with extensive transport networks, a large no. of incidences being reported can be difficult to follow up
If proper follow up is not undertaken and reported to the general population, trust in such systems will quickly diminish

Effectiveness

The intervention will not be as effective if immediate action is not undertaken and noticed by the general public. If security personnel are trained to respond immediately the intervention will be more effective. There is thus a relatively low level of perception of effectiveness (by female passengers) if immediate action is not undertaken and noticed by the general public. Medium to high level of confidence perception of effectiveness (by governing bodies) as they generally tend to equate establishing a system as being equal to being an effective system.