International Women's Day

Messages


Rachel Dore-Weeks

Head, UN Women in Lebanon

Rachel's Message

When we think about the use of space - private and public spaces - we see a duality – where women are associated with private spaces, and men are associated with public spaces. In this way, space is not gender neutral, nor only confined to the physical, but is something used to define social codes, social norms and social cultures – in which public spaces become spaces for men, while women live in private spaces.


As a result built environments are often constructed through this view – built by men, for men, with little thought for how spaces can be used by women, and by families, and how spaces can be built to reduce instances of violence and harassment, and how they can promote feelings of safety.


We need to be working together to proactively design and build urban environments in ways that engage women and men, and that seek to front load issues of women’s safety to create safe public spaces. This includes consulting with women on the design and use of urban spaces, and investing in enhancing street lights, traffic lights, widening walkways for strollers and wheelchairs, and so on.


How we design our public space is critical for delivering on gender equality, on people’s rights and dignity, and on the 2030 sustainable development agenda.

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