Using Data and Technology to Build Inclusive Public Spaces in Cities

Safetipin is a technology platform that is being used in cities around the world to collect user generated as well as large scale data on key parameters in assessing safety(with a focus on women's safety) and inclusion in public spaces in cities. The parameters that Safetipin measures focus both on infrastructure as well as social factors that affect usage of public spaces. Since our inception in 2013 we have collected data in 30 cities in India and globally. The app allows citizens to share their assessment and feelings through crowdsourcing. In this session, we will be presenting case studies of how Safetipin has been used in cities in India and around Asia to build evidence of issues on women's safety and inclusion in public spaces in cities. In each city, data has been collected with women and youth involvement in order to hear the voices and understand the concerns and perspectives of vulnerable populations. Communities have also been engaged through online and offline methods to ensure the widest inclusion of a diversity of voices. Safetipin works with partners in every city, as well as directly with city governments and administration. This ensures that the data collected feeds into programs and policies to implement effective change in enhancing inclusion and safety in cities. We will present the case studies from some of these cities focusing on the innovative method of data collection, community involvement, and strategic engagement of key stakeholders as well as responses to the data and changes that have been instituted. We see this as an opportunity to share successes and challenges, learn from each city as well as reach out to more cities to understand how this technology platform can be more responsive and effective in making cities and public spaces safer and more inclusive around the world.