Consider Different Approaches

Last edited: October 30, 2010

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Because safe cities for women programmes are made up of many different partners, there will be many different approaches to making the community safer for women. It is likely that some combination of approaches will be desirable, based on the different partners who are working together. For instance, a university partner might work with a partner from the local planning department on a study of women’s perceptions of safety related to the location of their neighbourhoods. This study could be combined with the creation of women-only police stations in neighbourhoods where women feel the least safe. At the same time, the planning department could use the results of the study to develop gendered safety criteria for planning new neighbourhoods, with input from officers at the women-only police station.

In the programme design stage, safe cities for women programme partners can make a list of possible approaches and determine which ones are most desirable based on a number of considerations such as: research on whether they have been tried and worked before; possible overlap with other approaches; feasibility (i.e. is there a partner who has the know-how to take that action? is it possible to obtain enough resources for it? is that the best action to deal with the problems identified?); and how well the approach corresponds with the safe cities for women programme’s goals and objectives.

Case Study: Developing an Integrated Strategy for Community Safety, in Women and Community Safety: A Resource Book on Planning for Safer Communities

This case study examines the different strategies taken by a small rural Canadian community when implementing a local programme on community safety – the Call to Action Project. Each strategy is grouped by approach (Community/Social Development; Planning, Design and Management; Safety, Security and Action) and potential lead agencies and partners are also identified. This case study illustrates how safe cities for women programme partners can organize their strategies and coordinate themselves.

Source: Dame, T. and A. Grant, 2002, Cowichan Women Against Violence Society, Canada: pages 99 –102. Available in English and French.