A national symposium on Women’s Safety at Work & Public Spaces organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, was held at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Chaired by NHRC Acting Chairperson Smt. Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, the event highlighted the persistent challenges women face despite existing legal provisions for their empowerment. The discussions concluded with numerous suggestions aimed at improving women's safety, underscoring the need for a holistic approach.
Smt. Sayani noted that incidents of sexual violence against women are not isolated and require coordinated, collective action. She emphasized the need to improve the criminal justice system by strengthening the enforcement of existing laws and ensuring accountability for perpetrators. This, she stated, can be achieved through public sensitization and creating better support mechanisms for survivors. She urged all stakeholders to collaborate to provide an effective and sustainable response to these issues.
NHRC Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal, opened the discussion by highlighting the challenges women, particularly those aged 18-30, face today. With more women entering the workforce and public spaces, crimes against them have increased. He stressed the need for a societal effort to ensure the safety and security of women.
Shri Ajay Bhatnagar, NHRC Director General, attributed violence against women to unequal power dynamics. He emphasized the importance of addressing equity rather than equality to recognize and respond to the unique needs of women and girls. He also criticized media and films for glorifying problematic behaviors, like stalking, which influence societal attitudes. Bhatnagar stressed that involving men and boys at every level is crucial in building a safer environment for women.
NHRC Joint Secretary Smt. Anita Sinha discussed the psychological trauma women endure due to sexual violence, which can prevent other women and girls from stepping outside their homes. She stressed the urgency of collective action to prevent such incidents and create a safer environment for women.
During the symposium, representatives from various government bodies and law enforcement agencies discussed government initiatives aimed at improving women’s safety. Programs like the Nirbhaya Fund, Mission Shakti, the Safe City Project, and SHE-Box 2.0 were cited as significant steps forward. Additional measures include increased police surveillance through CCTV cameras, lighting dark spots in cities, and gender-sensitization programs at schools and colleges.
Several key suggestions emerged during the discussions:
1. Conduct safety and social audits of cities and institutions to identify gaps in women’s safety in workplaces and public spaces, ideally in collaboration with professional organizations.
2. Ensure better enforcement of existing laws to convert policies into tangible safety improvements for women at home and outside.
3. Implement gender-sensitization programs across all levels, including schools, workplaces, top management, and law enforcement systems.
4. Establish media guidelines for reporting crimes against women to avoid sensationalism.
5. Encourage bystander intervention and reporting of crimes.
6. Shift the perception of women's safety from a reactive to a proactive, collective societal responsibility.
7. Ensure that workplaces have functional Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) to foster a safe environment for women employees.
The NHRC will continue to deliberate on the symposium's inputs to finalize its recommendations. The event was attended by prominent figures, including Ms. Meenakshi Negi, Member Secretary of NCW, Ms. Rupali Banerjee Singh of NCPCR, Delhi Police officials, representatives from UN Women India, and senior executives from Apple India and Invest India.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Ankur Deka/MSM)
