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Making Sydney safer for women and girls

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Trish Sunga Trish Sunga Australasia Press Office,Sydney
6 March 2020

Arup’s insights and experiences in making cities safer for women have contributed to a new charter to promote and guide collective action in Sydney.

The Greater Sydney Women’s Safety Charter is designed to help improve the city so that women and girls are confident to participate fully in work, study, leisure and social activities.  

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Making our city more female-friendly will bring wider social and productivity benefits because a city that works better for women, works better for everyone. ” Lucy Turnbull AO Lucy Turnbull AO Chief Commissioner, Greater Sydney Commission

Launching the Charter, Ms Turnbull said it is intended for small and large businesses, governments, peak bodies and not-for-profits organisations – all of whom play a part in making a city safer. 

Released as part of International Women’s Day, the Charter’s principles and key outcomes can influence policies, practices and service planning and delivery.   

Arup has also been working with Plan International, Monash University XYX Lab and the Committee for Sydney on research, strategies, designs and practical action plans to improve the city-life experience for women and girls.

Darebin Council in Melbourne has engaged Arup’s specialists to deliver custom lighting to improve amenity and security in a village area identified by local women as unsafe.

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We are used to discussions about whether companies have responded to a more diverse workforce. Yet we don’t often explore whether the way our cities are planned and developed is actually responding appropriately to similar challenges and needs. ”

Georgia Vitale Georgia Vitale Regeneration and Social Value specialist

“It is all about building a deep empathy with the people you’re planning for and with.

“We need to recognise that what constitutes quality of life differs from place to place, community to community and over an individual’s life course.”

Arup has signed on as a Charter Participant Organisation, committing to uphold its principles and outcomes.