Launch of Campaign: Safe Delhi for Women

Through the Safe Delhi Initiative, the Delhi Government aims to work towards creating a city that is safe and accessible to women and other vulnerable groups. As Dr. Kiran Walia, Minister, Women and Child Development and Health and Family Welfare, Delhi Government, said, “Delhi will take the leadership and create a model to address women’s safety in cities in a holistic way with a strategic framework that will involve various stakeholders”.

The Delhi Government is intending to create a plan that is both far sighted and strategic. And the stakeholders involved will include the police, urban planners, service providers, transport authorities, community groups and civil society actors like resident welfare groups, and NGO’s.

This strategic initiative will enable the police to develop preventive measures and a quick and efficient response to cases that are reported. Urban planning and design will have to incorporate gender as an element while designing more inclusive cities. And public transport must put in place services that are safe and efficient.

The Delhi Government, with its collaborators, will also work through the Bhagidari programme to involve Resident Welfare Associations’ and Market Trader Associations’ to address women’s safety in their areas. While the Gender Resource Centres (GRCs) of the Mission Convergence Programme, which already addresses women’s empowerment issues, will work with both boys and girls, in schools and in community-based groups, on issues of equality, respect and empowerment because these are essential if a city is to be safe for its women and girls.

Ms. Anne Stenhammer, Regional Director, UNIFEM said, ‘We hope that together, we will be able to demonstrate a model to the rest of India and South Asia’. UNIFEM and UN Habitat who have supported similar initiatives in other cities will provide technical support to the process. Several cities across the world (including Seoul, Dar es Salaam, Bogota, Rosario) have created “Safer Cities for Women” programs in order to plan strategic interventions that can address insecurities and problems that women and girls face in cities.

Other panelists included Mr. Kale, Director, Women and Child Development Delhi Government, who emphasized the need for men to change their mind-sets and partner this wonderful initiative. Kalpana Viswanath from JAGORI talked about Jagori's efforts since 2005 to make safety a citizen’s issue and not just a woman’s issue. Rama, a youth leader with Jagori in Madanpur Khader, shared the safety audits undertaken by youth and the transformation of the local community park into a safe space for girls to play, something that was unheard of prior to their intervention. Shanno Begum from Azad Foundation reflected on challenging notions of safety and empowerment and how she trained to be a women-sensitive taxi driver who can make a difference in the city. A male volunteer from the audience, a new comer to the city, expressed deep concern about the safety of women and girls and the need for more respect to women.

Ms. Rashmi Singh, Director, Mission Convergence, Mr. Harpal Singh Virk, DCP-Crime Against Women Cell, Nanakpura, Sushma Kapoor, Madhu Bala Nath, Gitanjali and other members from UNIFEM were special guests for the evening. The proceedings were ably managed by Ms. Geetika Sharma, Deputy Director, Women and Child Development Delhi Government. Around 500 participants joined the event including from civil society, the Gender Resource Centres working with the Delhi Government, youth groups from Bawana and Madanpur Khader alongwith the media.

A cultural evening followed with well known singer Vidya Shah rending songs of peace and harmony, a street play by Mehak, songs by JAGORI team and a candle light vigil.

This initiative aims to address a long-standing problem in this city in a strategic and holistic manner.

Collaboration: Delhi Government Safe Delhi Initiative, UNIFEM, JAGORI and UN Habitat

For further information, please contact: JAGORI, B-114, Shivalik, Malviya Nagar, New Delhi – 110 017
Tel.: 91-11-26691219, 26691220 Telefax : : 91-11-26691221
E-mail : jagori@jagori.org, safedelhi@jagori.org
Website : www.jagori.org, www.safedelhi.jagori.org
Helpline : 91-11-26692700

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