92% of Delhi Women Face Sexual Violence in Public
Experts call for cities designed for and by women to create a safer environment, as a national consultation marks 15 years of the UN Women's Safe Cities initiative
Experts and officials gathered on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, to call for cities designed for and by women to create a safer environment. The national consultation was organised to mark 15 years of the UN Women's Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces initiative.
The initiative aims to make city planning more inclusive and enable women's meaningful access to cities. According to Rajib Kumar Sen, Programme Director, NITI Aayog, safe cities are no longer only about preventing violence but about how women move around cities, access public spaces, and participate in economic activities.
A World Bank analysis of India's 2011 Census data found that 45.4% of women walked to work, compared to 27.4% of men. Additionally, surveys cited by the World Bank show that 50-70% of women in Indian cities avoid public transport for fear of harassment.
A 2012 baseline survey by UN Women and the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) revealed alarming statistics, with 92% of women in Delhi having experienced some form of sexual violence in public spaces, and only 5% considering those spaces safe.
The UN Women's Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces initiative now spans 75 cities in 36 countries, with New Delhi being one of the five founding cities. Stefan Priesner, UN Resident Coordinator in India, emphasized the importance of participation, stating that women and girls should be partners in designing public spaces, not just users of them.
## Why it matters The creation of safer cities is crucial for women's empowerment and participation in economic activities. By designing cities with women's needs in mind, governments and urban planners can help reduce the risk of harassment and violence, enabling women to move freely and access public spaces without fear. This, in turn, can have a positive impact on the economy and society as a whole.
The UN Women's Safe Cities initiative has made significant progress over the past 15 years, but there is still much work to be done. As the initiative continues to expand to more cities around the world, it is essential to prioritize the needs and perspectives of women in urban planning, ensuring that their voices are heard and their safety is guaranteed.
