SAFETY CHARTER LAUNCHED FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS
This International Women’s Day, Transport for NSW is taking more action to address women’s safety concerns when travelling at night, by launching a new collaborative Greater Sydney Women’s Safety Charter and an Innovation Challenge.
TfNSW Deputy Secretary Greater Sydney, Elizabeth Mildwater said the Charter is all about creating a community of organisations that are committed to taking action to make Sydney safer for women.
“We know we can do more to make women feel and be safer when travelling through the city at night, which is why we’ve partnered with the Greater Sydney Commission and Committee for Sydney to co-design the new Women’s Safety Charter,” Ms Mildwater said.
“It’s great to see key organisations commit to the Charter, which outlines a set of targeted principles to uphold. We look forward to working with them to create a safer city for women.”
The Charter asks organisations to look into their safety processes like how incidents are reported, how data is collected and shared, gender equality in design roles and asks them to elect leaders to reinforce values around women’s safety.
“As part of our commitment to the Charter, we are also announcing that start-ups and other businesses can now apply to partner with Transport for NSW’s Digital Accelerator and pitch ways technology and data can make women feel safer on public transport at night,” Ms Mildwater said.
“Over the past few months we have met youth advocates, young women, start-ups, safety experts and our partners to create a defined problem statement to take into the challenge.”
The announcements follow a Women and Safety in the City Symposium last year that brought together representatives from across government, business community and the not-for-profit sector to discuss ways of making Greater Sydney a city where women and girls can feel safe.
Chief Commissioner of the Greater Sydney Commission, Lucy Turnbull AO, unveiled the Women’s Safety Charter at the Ivy precinct in Sydney and urged businesses, government, peak industry groups and not-for-profit organisations to “get on board”.
“Although Greater Sydney is one of the safest cities in the world, more needs to be done to ensure everyone feels safe, confident and included so they can fully participate in city life. This brings wider social, cultural and productivity benefits."
“I’ve long said that a city that works for women, works for everyone. The Women’s Safety Charter is designed to help participants promote, plan for, design and operate places where people of all ages feel safer,” she said.
“The Charter’s three foundation principles and nine key outcomes were developed in consultation with more than 80 organisations across Greater Sydney including local councils, state agencies, not-for-profit groups and businesses. The principles and outcomes are intended to influence policies, practices, and service planning and delivery by Charter participants.
To learn more about Transport for NSW’s Innovation Challenge and how to apply click here and here.
To learn more about the Women’s Safety Charter or to become a participant, head here.