The right to feel safe: women should be able to use public transport without fear

Despite the high levels of incidents, sexual harassment remains mainly unreported. Women tend not to report the majority of incidents, sometimes amid concerns that they would not be taken seriously. This has to change.

By Monique Villa and Laura Bates

(Photo By New research puts London behind New York, Beijing and Tokyo for womenâ?Ts safety on transport. Photo: Oli Scarff/Getty)

Ask a man about his number one priority when it comes to public transport. Most likely he will say “speed”. Ask a woman the same question and chances are that she will answer “safety”.

Sexual harassment on public transport is an everyday occurrence for millions of girls and women living in some of the world’s biggest capitals.