French metro: Addressing increased harassment of women; request for women-only carriages.
French newspaper Le Parisien reports that Marie K., a French citizen who, like many people, uses public transport, especially the metro, has asked the Ile-de-France transport company and the French national railway company to consider special carriages for women on urban trains to improve safety for women. She has launched a campaign that has collected 11,000 signatures in the first seven days of publication and more than 31,000 so far.
The attack on a woman on an urban train on October 16 in the Ile-de-France region, which also includes Paris, has once again put the safety of public transport for women in the spotlight.
Marie has suggested that inspiration be drawn from what has been implemented outside France and that “a pilot project for special carriages for women and children” be defined on urban trains.
She states in the text of her petition: Security is not a privilege, but a fundamental right. Ile-de-France could be the first region in France to set an example by making public transport a truly safe space for women. Women should not feel afraid on any journey. They have the right to travel in peace and security.
The text mentions countries that have adopted the principle of separating female passengers to combat the many forms of violence and harassment by men. Marie K. points to Japan, India, Mexico, and Dubai: “Many countries have already found concrete and effective solutions. In these countries, such measures have become the norm.”
In contact with the newspaper Le Parisien, she said that she knew that her proposal to separate women from men would not be universally accepted. “Until the system protects us, I consider this idea a temporary and necessary measure, at least to reduce the risks.”
The Ile-de-France regional transport authority (IDFM) considers combating insecurity one of its priorities, but has announced that there are no plans to implement separate carriages.