Safer streets in Cairo

开罗更安全的街道

People Fixing the World

2025-08-06

23 分钟
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What if reimagining how cities are designed could make women safer? In Cairo, sexual harassment and violence against women on the streets has been endemic. Women don't feel safe enough to walk or take public transport. A pioneering programme called Safer Cities, is hoping to find the solution through radical urban redesigns, women friendly spaces and raising awareness about sexual harassment. Salma El-Wardany, who was born in Cairo, visits a women’s only park in Imbaba, Giza and meets Samaha who runs the park. She not only oversees the children playing, but also organises events for local women with advice and support. Salma visits Zenein Market in Giza, which was redesigned to better support the majority of female sellers there. They show Salma the older part of the market which is yet to be regenerated. Salma also speaks to Caroline Nassif, who worked as Project Officer at UN Women, as well as local NGOs, and Minister Manal Awad Mikhail who was one of the driving forces behind the scheme across locations.
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  • Hello, I'm Myra Anubian.

  • Welcome to People Fixing the World from the BBC World Service,

  • where we explore new ideas that are making our planet a better place.

  • People Fixing the World will be back soon, but until then, we are bringing you a special episode.

  • In Safer Streets, Salma El-Wordani asks if redesigning parts of Cairo has made women feel safer.

  • One of the major problems that women face globally is how to stay safe.

  • We have to constantly do the mental arithmetic of where we can walk alone,

  • where we can walk at night,

  • and if we can even take public transport without the fear of being harassed,

  • catcalled or abused by men.

  • Welcome to Safer Streets from the BBC World Service.

  • I'm Salma El-Wadhani and I'm in Cairo, the city of my birth.

  • The streets here... are busy, they're chaotic,

  • and sexual harassment has historically been a huge problem.

  • Over the last 15 years, however, the tide has begun to turn,

  • thanks to feminist movements and organisations trying to change things for women.

  • One project, the UN Women's Safer City Scheme, has created safe spaces for women and girls.

  • But are they the solution?

  • And do they actually work?

  • One of the areas chosen for urban redesign was Mbebe.