Chapter 5: Create and develop sustainable places and communities

Gender inequalities are often reflected and reinforced through the process of planning and design. Faced with challenges from transportation services that prioritise commuting over care giving, to the lack of lighting and toilets in public spaces, many women and girls around the world feel inconvenienced, uncomfortable, and unsafe in many urban environments. Historically, such urban planning and design has, unfortunately, helped reinforce gender inequalities.
(The World Bank (2020). Handbook for gender-inclusive urban planning and design)

Promoting gender equalities with our planners, designers, community members and decision makers is important so that we can achieve prosperity for all. After all, both design and planning influence the environment around us and that environment shapes how we live, work, play, move and rest. 

Despite various initiatives and advancements, women and girls still do not feel safe in public. Many have experienced being verbally and physically harassed in the street, in both urban and rural areas. Reports of feeling unsafe when travelling alone are common and many women and girls feel they need to adapt their behaviours to avoid harassment.
(Plan International (2020). The state of girls' rights in the UK 2019-2020)