Safe Spaces Now: Transport
What happens when your day is over? You need to get home safe.
Together, we can make all transport safe and inclusive for everyone. This is Safe Spaces Now.
“Get home safe.” “Text me when you get home.” “Share your location.”
How many times have you heard those words or said them to your friends?
On 10th March 2021, we released a report revealing the prevalence of sexual harassment across the UK – only 3% of 18 to 24-year-olds had told us they weren’t being harassed.
This data was made up of your stories, of what you’ve experienced, and it was shared so many times that it reached over 1 billion people online.
| “I take a taxi even if it’s a short walk – I divert to a shop to order a taxi if I’m worried someone is there” | “I’ll pay to get a taxi so I don’t have to get the bus and then walk alone. “ | “I take taxis a lot, especially if it’s late – which is expensive!” |
“Taxi drivers should have compulsory training on conduct to make women feel safer”
We spoke to 700 women and girls across the UK in workshops to ask them what would make them feel safe.
From the 150 co-created solutions, one of the biggest needs was education and prevention. Ensuring people have the skills to change mindsets, intervene and support others.
That’s how Safe Spaces Now was born.
Together, we’re turning UK transport services into Safe Spaces Now
Over and over again, we heard the call for trustworthy, affordable taxis.
Now, we’re training transport providers across the UK to help make transport safer for everyone. Including specific bystander training for taxi drivers to help them stand up to sexual harassment and ensure women feel safer on the roads.
Every UN Women UK trained transport provider learns how to:
Advocate for survivors
Act to support women in immediate danger
Help survivors seek help
Prevent violence from ever happening in the first place
This is how you can make UK transport systems safer
 |
 |
 |
| Book Safes Spaces Now training for your organisation: | Ask your regular transport company to become a Safe Space Now: | Spread the word: |
Together, we can make this a reality across the entire UK
Imagine a world where…
…you felt safe, no matter what space you were in
…you could go anywhere you choose, without fear of harassment
…you could go out at any time you choose, without worrying about what might happen
What would you do?
Because this needs to end, now
Over 70%
of women in the UK say they have experienced sexual harassment in public
Only 3%
of women aged 18-24 told us they had not experienced any of the behaviours we asked about
This is a global issue – almost 9 in 10
women in some cities around the world feel unsafe in public spaces
Every 10 minutes
somewhere in the world an adolescent girl dies as a result of violence.
And the systems in place to reduce violence and harassment are not working.
Only 4% of women told us they reported the incidents of harassment to an official organisation – with 45% of women saying they didn’t believe reporting would help change anything.
We have to act now.
Data from YouGov Survey of over 1,000 women, commissioned by UN Women UK in January 2021.
Read the full data in the report by the APPG for UN Women.
UN Women UK: the only organisation working towards gender equality at all levels, in all areas of society
Right now, we’re facing a 300-year wait for gender equality. Women’s rights are being abused, threatened, and violated around the world. Progress won over decades is vanishing before our eyes.
Here at UN Women UK, we’re combating this through collective action at all levels of society – from governments to corporates, communities to individuals. We’re here to ensure that every woman and girl has access to safety, choice and a voice. In the UK and around the world.