“Geneva, an egalitarian city?”

As part of the municipality’s “Zero sexism in my city” action plan implemented since 2019, the City of Geneva has commissioned the University to conduct a survey concerning the practices adopted by women in public areas within the city. Despite the complex health situation, the City has decided to maintain the publication of the report and the launch of a poster campaign running from 9 to 29 November. The current crisis has not made sexism or gender inequalities disappear. On the contrary.

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Since 2019, the Agenda 21 – Sustainable City Service of the Department of Finance, Housing and the Environment (DFEL) has managed the “Zero sexism in my city” action plan. Adopted by the Municipal Council, it aims to prevent sexism and harassment in public areas. Several projects have been developed, including awarness actionsadministrative staff training measures and projects implemented with a view to gradually feminising public areas.

Alongside these actions, and in order to address the lack of local data available, the City has commissioned Professor Marylène Lieber from the University of Geneva to conduct a survey on the practices adopted by women in public areas. A dozen focus groups were thus organised in autumn 2019, involving 80 women, to document their perceptions of public areas, their experiences and uses of the city, the constraints they encounter and the strategies they develop to deal with this. 

Contrasting results

The survey report published in September 2020 shows that, while the quality of life is appreciated in Geneva, not all women benefit from the resources available in the same way. According to Marylène Lieber, “Analysis of the focus groups shows that inequalities in access to and use of the city hinge on criteria such as age, income, social position, sexual and emotional orientation, handicap, language resources and legal status.”  

Furthermore the report also shows that the presence of dependants (children, aged or handicapped people) causes different situations. Often feeling more legitimate in public areas when performing household chores, more women are more locally mobile within their district (in particular in parks, children’s play areas and shopping centres). This limited use of public areas also reflects the fact that women incorporate the idea of “danger” associated with the street at an early stage.

The recurrence of different forms of violence to which women are subjected in public areas is also one of the major observations which emerge from this survey. Public areas also appear to be dynamic places of interaction where women want to go, but where they experience numerous undesirable encounters which leave a lasting mark on their perception of urban areas. All the women interviewed adopt anticipatory, avoidance or protective strategies designed to enable them to continue enjoying access to public areas but which are accompanied by certain consequences, in particular in terms of mental stress.

The conclusion of the report presents a series of recommendations to make the city more egalitarian. These range from incorporating gender issues into urban development plans and transport policies to the extension of actions targeting awareness, occupational training and the fight against all forms of discrimination. The importance of simultaneously implementing different measures designed to form a long-term, cross-cutting policy is also emphasised by the research team, a fact reflected in the action plan adopted by the City of Geneva. “With the current crisis exacerbating inequalities and forms of discrimination, this study represents a key contribution for the City. It will enable us to enhance our action plan by reiterating not only that access to public areas is a right, but also that gender-based violence is neither acceptable nor tolerated,” states Alfonso Gomez, Administrative Councillor responsible for equality and diversity. 

The third phase of the “Zero sexism in my city” campaign

Publication of the survey results coincides with the third phase of the “Zero sexism in my city” campaign, which will take to the streets of Geneva from 9 to 29 November.

Designed in collaboration with a working group consisting of the partner associations and institutions of the municipal action plan, the campaign visuals are linked to the survey results. They refer to the general notion of the universal right to the city while also reiterating in no uncertain terms that women have the right to make use of the city – be it to do sport, move around, take a stroll or celebrate – in total peace of mind. They also emphasise that sexism and harassment are issues which concern everyone – as targets, witnesses or perpetrators – and which must be addressed collectively.  

Awareness actions are planned alongside the public poster campaign in partnership with Les Créatives festival, Viol-Secours, Amnesty International, la Compagnie Acte and the University of Geneva. These will take the form of FemDoChi self-defence classes for women, “Don’t turn away” workshops intended for witnesses, a stage-managed urban walk entitled “Public.ques” and a debate evening on the subject of “A city for you”. Due to the health situation, these actions have been postponed or adapted to an online format.

More information at www.geneve.ch/zero-sexisme

Contact

Héloïse Roman

Chargée de projets égalité

Service Agenda 21-Ville durable

5, rue de l'Hôtel-de-Ville

1204

Genève

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Tél. +41 22 418 22 93

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Article modifié le 16.05.2023 à 13:56