The way we design our public realm affects who feels safe, welcome and free to move around. Lighting, sightlines, the quality of places to spend time and the presence of other people all play an important role.

During the symposium, you will discover how looking at the public realm through a women-centred lens can reveal new insights into the design of streets, squares, parks and other public places.

• Discover the key findings from research conducted by Witteveen+Bos together with nine cities.
• Explore the Women-Friendly Design Toolbox and the design principles that emerged from the research.
• Hear practical experiences and exchange ideas with professionals working in the field.
• Gain inspiration to look at safety and inclusion differently in your own projects.

Safer Cities is a project of Plan International, held in 15 Flemish cities, offering five actions for local authorities:

• Organising safety walks for qualitative data collection
• Learning about the needs of vulnerable groups through focus groups
• Empowering residents and professionals to become active bystanders through bystander training
• Coaching in developing a local action plan to prevent inappropriate behaviour in public spaces
• Access to the Safer Cities digital platform for quantitative data collection