Safety in public spaces is essential for everyone. However, women and girls feel significantly less safe in cities and continue to face harassment, abuse, and acts of in some cases deadly violence. Recently, a 17-year-old girl was killed while cycling home on the outskirts of Amsterdam. This devastating incident has underscored the urgent need for action. This incident gained widespread attention in the Netherlands, receiving broad coverage in national media. Lisa’s death sparked strong public reaction, including
protest across the country under the slogan “Wij eisen de nacht op” (“We reclaim the night”), and renewed discussions about women’s safety in public spaces. The City of Amsterdam is committed to ensuring that women and girls can move freely and safely, day or night, without fear of violence. While this has always been a priority, the recent tragedy has heightened awareness among both citizens and policymakers about the critical importance of addressing this issue.
We recognize that this is a global challenge. By developing effective solutions, we can improve safety not only for women and girls but also for other vulnerable groups in cities and communities across Europe and beyond. Several research questions that we would like to address are: How do we design public spaces that feel inviting and inclusive for women? What would make women feel comfortable and represented? Research indicates that recreational spaces are frequently tailored to boys and men, while
spaces that appeal to woman and girls tend to look quite different.
