Safety and security in cities in Spain

In Spain, in many cities, women, adults and people with a disability still have a lot to worry about when it comes to their personal safety.

The local authorities and city management have a crucial role to play in the prevention of violence against them, both in public and private spaces, whether it be harassment or attacks outside the home, or domestic abuse behind closed doors.

Local authorities can improve the city’s physical environment- for example, through better street lighting, building better alternatives to dark and secluded walkways, or even positioning bus stops in safer areas. Effective interventions often promote consultation and participation from themselves.

Local governments can also make cities safer by mainstreaming gender in their crime prevention policies and programmes, especially through sensitisation campaigns, training and development of services for people affected by violence. These programmes have a role in changing attitudes and behaviour that condone and perpetuates violence against disadvantaged groups.

 Safer Cities Programmes contributes to a better understanding of gender-based violence on the city level and the development of adequate tools to prevent it.  Their activities may include the following:

•Collection of gender-disaggregated data about safety and security

•Conducting violence against women surveys

•Conducting safety audits and exploratory walks

•Integrating a gender-based approach in city policy and planning

•Promoting partnerships between all stakeholders on the local level to fight gender-based violence
•Promoting the documentation and exchange of good practices and lessons learnt.