Campaigns, education, and other behaviour change interventions aim to raise awareness and publicize information on sexual harassment and assault in the public transport space. Campaigns are used to encourage women to report incidents and speak up to change male attitudes towards sexual harassment and assault. 

Campaigns also inform the general public about initiatives to combat sexual harassment and assault, appeal for witnesses of such offences to come forward, communicate what types of behaviours are unacceptable, and indicate where victims of sexual harassment and assault can gain access to trauma counselling, amongst others. 

Educational events within the community aim to teach the public about sexual harassment and assault in the public transport space, provide resources on how people can be part of the solution, and teach and encourage positive masculinity throughout society.

Campaigns, Education, Behaviour

Infrastructure interventions involve physical interventions that improve and increase the personal safety of passengers around public transport stops and stations. Research has shown that the design and management of the physical environment play a significant role in deterring or encouraging criminal activity and influencing the actual and perceived personal safety of passengers, especially for women and marginalized groups.

A key consideration in the design of public transport infrastructure is visibility, or ‘natural surveillance’ – the possibility of seeing others and being seen. Consequently, interventions, such as providing improved lighting, clear sight lines, and clear, unobstructed sidewalks are important in improving the safety of an area. 

Other types of infrastructure interventions, such as providing secure toilets, safe spaces, and mixed-use public spaces in public transport precincts are also crucial interventions that can increase the actual and perceived personal safety of public transport users.

Reliable Connectivity to Mobile Phone-Based Security Platforms

Clear Sightlines at Underpasses and Subways

Clear Sightlines in Transport Hubs and Interchanges (including local car parks)

Creation of Safe Spaces for People When They Feel Uncomfortable or Scared

Mixed-Use of Public Spaces

Toilets in Secure Areas That Are Well-Lit, Clean, Free of Charges and Have an Attendant

Development of Sidewalks That are Well-Lit, Free of Encroachments, Dark Corners, and Overhanging Trees, While Wide Enough to Accommodate All Pedestrian Flows Comfortably

Infrastructure

The EMPOWER definition on sexual harassment is the unwanted advances of a sexual nature given by someone to another. It can either be verbal, visual, physical and /or psychological (such as intimidation or stalking).

Legal framework interventions involve the development and application of laws and punishments that may discriminate against or exclude women from being able to fully participate in or use urban transport. They may include laws that restrict women working in transport and/or pertain to sexual harassment and other sex offences in the public transport realm (compared to domestic violence). 

Sexual assault and rape are criminal offences and can be sentenced as such, but sexual harassment in public spaces including on or around public transport is not. The EMPOWER project has shown that few countries or cities clearly define in law what can be considered a sexual offence on public transport, and to what extent this includes harassment. Most legal frameworks protect women from domestic violence or harassment in the workplace, whilst national and local laws are often unclear on sentences or punishments regarding sexual harassment in public spaces and on public transport. Therefore, strict, and well-defined laws and punishments are essential interventions as they encourage victims to report incidents, discourage sexual harassment and other offences and help to increase confidence in the transport system. However, they also need to be supported by robust response systems and mechanisms.

Remove Legal Barriers for Women to Work in Transport

Legislation Against Street Harassment

Legislation Against Sexual Assault and Rape

Legal Framework

Management interventions aim to increase the personal safety of passengers in the public transport system by introducing appropriate interventions to relevant organizations, authorities, and decision-making bodies. 

These interventions cover a wide range of management areas, such as company policy (especially with regards to gender bias), planning and management practice, improved incident reporting, access control management, promoting modal shift, having a customer-centric focus, and providing centralized feedback mechanisms. 

Several of these management interventions focus on high-level institutional and operational change, while others focus on interventions that directly impact passengers.

Zero Tolerance Policies Towards Sexual Harassment of Passengers and Staff

Female Dedicated Services

Increasing Diversity of the Transport Workforce

Displaying and Authenticating Vehicle Operator Details

Appoint Sexual Harassment Support Team 

Public Engagement and Participation When Implementing Public Transport

Ensuring that Women Form Part of the Decision-Making Teams for Urban Design

Safety and Security Apps

Hotline to Call for Immediate Security Intervention

Hotline to Call to Report an Incident

Protocols for Raising Complaints (whistleblowers) 

Management

Surveillance and policing interventions aim to increase the safety and security of public transport users by implementing both digital and physical surveillance interventions in and around public transport services. Personal security affects the ridership and revenue of public transport operators, as people are unlikely to use it if it is unsafe, or, just as importantly, perceived to be unsafe.

One of the most fundamental measures to reduce sexual harassment and assault in the public transport precincts is the presence of physical security guards, as they provide a quick response to incidents and greatly contribute to the feeling of personal safety of women and marginalised groups. Digital interventions, such as CCTV cameras, live tracking and tracing tools, and personal safety auditing tools are also effective in reducing sexual harassment and assault and in increasing the perception of safety on public transport.

Surveillance and Policing

Vehicle design interventions involve physical interventions within public transport vehicles to improve the safety of the passengers. Public transport vehicles can become extremely crowded during peak travel times, which provides opportunities for unwanted and inappropriate sexual behaviours. 

Conversely, offenders have the anonymity to commit acts of sexual harassment and assault during off-peak times when vehicles are near empty.

 Interventions, such as the provision of emergency panic buttons, individual seating, good lighting, and exterior visibility of the vehicle interior are appropriate ways to help prevent offences on public transport vehicles.

Restrictions on In-Vehicle Entertainment

Individual Seating in Public Transport Vehicles

In-Vehicle Lighting

Restrictions on Window Tinting

Onboard Emergency Communication Systems

Vehicle Design

Home

Stakeholder Categories

Intervention Categories

Get Knowledge

Advanced Filtering

Repository

Policy Maker

This category refers to all people/organisations responsible for formulating or amending policy. Policy makers tend to be approached by inhabitants, rate payers, lobbyists (non-governmental and non-profit organisations, amongst others), interest groups, academics, and the media hoping to influence policies.

SHE CAN Tool

Categories of Interventions

Legal Framework+

Surveillance and Policing+

Infrastructure+

Campaigns, Education, Behaviour+

Vehicle Design+

Management+