In 2016, WHO Member States endorsed the Global plan of action to strengthen the role of the health system within a national multisectoral response to address interpersonal violence, in particular against women and girls, and against children.
As UGHW renews our commitment during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, we review what women’s safety looks like and how we can jointly create safer, and more inclusive environments.
Violence against women remains a global challenge. According to a 2025 WHO report on the prevalence of violence against women, many women continue to face a range of gender-based violence, most commonly perpetrated by a current or former husband or male intimate partner. Approximately one in five women in the Central and Southern Asia region have experienced intimate partner violence in the past 12 months.
Fragile contexts such as humanitarian crises and environmental disasters have increased the risk of violence against women. The rapid proliferation of technology has further exacerbated women and girls’ risk of violence both online and offline. Violence against women is a major public health and human rights crisis – however, it is preventable. This article highlights the She RISES framework, a practical assessment tool that supports governments in evaluating gender responsiveness and guiding strategic action to improve safety for women and girls in cities.
What Is She RISES Framework?
The She RISES framework—standing for Responsive, Inclusive, Safe, and Equitable Systems—was designed and piloted in 2024 by India’s Smart Cities Mission in partnership with Safetipin. The framework assesses how urban systems respond to the lived experiences, needs, and safety concerns of women and girls.
Overview of the She RISES Assessment Framework. Source: Safetipin
Key Pillars and Indicators
She RISES assessment uses 37 indicators across five pillars:
- Gender Responsive Policy Initiatives
- Public Spaces and Infrastructure
- Mobility and Public Transport
- Services and Amenities
- Response to Gender-Based Violence
Gender-responsive policy underlies all other domains and includes specific provisions for gender-experts’ input on programmes, gender budgeting, as well as targeted initiatives for transgenders and women. This domain highlights governance processes, emphasising mechanisms for women to participate in local consultations and avenues for public feedback.
This aligns closely with UGHW’s principles for governance for health and well-being: Participatory processes, Service performance, Transparency, Adaptiveness and Strengthening civic networks. (For more detail, please refer to the WHO Regional Healthy City Assessment Framework.)
Evidence-Based Action towards Safer Cities
Bengaluru
Piloted in six smart cities in India – Bengaluru, Jabalpur, Kakinada, Kochi, Kohima and Warangal, findings from the assessment informed recommendations for each city to become gender-responsive and gender transformational. This initiative at collecting periodic gender-disaggregated data is an instrumental step towards a more equitable society. Such data enables cities to better understand how women and girls experience public spaces, transport systems, and services, and to identify gaps in safety, access, and inclusion.
Tools such as the RESPECT women prevention framework can support governments’ and community efforts to create safer environments where women are free from the fear and experience of harassment and other forms of violence.
Creating safer cities for women requires more than infrastructure alone. It hinges upon strong governance, inclusive participation, and evidence-based planning. Frameworks like She RISES demonstrate how cities can move from awareness to action by embedding gender responsiveness into urban systems and decision-making. Together, we can make our spaces safe for all.
Foo Jia Xin, General Manager
Case Study: India Smart Cities Mission & Safetipin. Towards Gender Transformation of Indian Cities: Pilot Testing of an Assessment Framework in Six Smart Cities. March 2024. https://safetipin.com/report/towards-gender-transformation-of-indian-cities/
