Women's Safety in Public Spaces: An Ongoing Challenge

Despite stringent laws aimed at protecting women, many still feel unsafe in public spaces. The first quarter of 2025 has seen numerous incidents highlighting the vulnerabilities women face, particularly in public transport.

• A 23-year-old woman suffered severe injuries after jumping from a train to escape an assaulter.
• A pregnant woman miscarried after allegedly being pushed out of a train following an attempted rape.
• Harassment remains a common experience for women in unreserved train compartments and on government buses.

This raises the question of accountability, especially when society claims to support women's empowerment. In Why Loiter?, authors Shilpa Phadke, Sameera Khan, and Shilpa Ranade argue that societal efforts to "protect" women often result in confining them rather than making public spaces safer.

The Right to Freedom and Safety

Women must be able to travel freely and without fear. However, this remains challenging. A Delhi High Court ruling recently upheld the conviction of a man for sexually harassing a woman on a public bus in 2015, underlining the persistence of such issues despite tough laws.

• The court emphasized the importance of legal judgments as signals to society.

Judicial and Administrative Roles

Both judicial and administrative bodies play crucial roles in ensuring women's safety:

• The Supreme Court of India's decision to stay an Allahabad High Court order, which had controversially ruled that inappropriate touching of a minor was not attempted rape, underscores the need for sensitive legal interpretations.
• Administrative measures should include: 
  • Ensuring streets are well-lit.
  • Training police to handle harassment cases effectively.
  • Filling all vacancies in law enforcement promptly.

Without a coordinated, comprehensive approach to safety, women will continue to live in fear, impeding their rightful access to public life.