“SafeNess” is a mobile application that runs on Android and iOS. It allows the user to act quickly in case of dangers encountered in public spaces. The “SafeNess” app was developed by a group of young people with the support of the Center for Arab Women for Training and Research (CAWTAR). The app enables women and girls who use smartphones to protect themselves from violence and sexual harassment in public places. This explains the app’s name “SafeNess“, taken from two words “Safe” and “Nas” that means “people” in Arabic. So far, more than 4,200 users have downloaded the application on their smartphones. Currently, the app is available in Tunisia, Morocco, and more than 36 other countries.
A Digital Solution to Gender-Based Violence
CAWTAR works to support the capabilities of women and girls to be active in political and public life. It advocates for women and girls to fully enjoy their rights, including their right to move around safely. Studies have shown that women and girls experience physical and verbal violence, sexual harassment and sometimes rape in public spaces.
In 2016, CAWTAR conducted a study on the obstacles that hinder the participation of women in political and civic life. The study occurred in four Arab countries (Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, and Yemen). It revealed that gender-based violence in private and public spaces is a major obstacle. For example, the 2016 national study “Gender-based Violence in Public Places in Tunisia” revealed that 53.5% of the women surveyed declared that they had suffered some form of violence in a public space during the previous four years (2011- 2015). The study exposed that women experienced sexual violence (75.4%) as well as other forms of physical violence (41.2%).
Additionally, a 2019 study by CAWTAR on gender-based violence in university settings showed that sexual violence against girls is also prevalent in public settings. In response, the “SafeNess” application improves safety for women and girls in public spaces and allows them to act quickly in case of danger.
The “SafeNess” application runs on Android and iOS system mobile phones and is based on the following action points for the smartphone user:
- Identify and add trusted contacts from your contacts list
- Send your location to trusted people and allow them to track you
- Allow trusted people to follow your movements until you reach a safe place
- In the event of an emergency, the user can send an emergency alert. The emergency alert starts an immediate recording of the GPS coordinates date and time as well as voice recording. Trusted contacts can intervene – by calling the police or a person nearest to the site of the incident to intervene for the victim.
- The recording saves automatically in the profile. It can serve as evidence in the event that a complaint if filed against the aggressor.
Expanding Safety for Women Globally
Currently, the “SafeNess” app is available in Tunisia, Morocco and more than 36 other countries. Development on the application continues, as the application is updated from time to time to add new functions and services. This app is one way in which CAWTAR can continue to support women and girls to be active in political and public life.
The Center for Arab Women for Training and Research (CAWTAR) was established in 1993. It was established in response to the desire of many international and regional organizations, NGOs and Arab governments, to establish a regional center for research and studies on the status of women. It collects, analyzes and publishes data, indicators and statistics related to the economic, social and political conditions of women. CAWAR also contributes to building the capacities of actors, supporting networking and strategic partnerships, and enhancing women’s rights advocacy tracks.
http://www.cawtar.org/en
CAWTAR Facebook Page
Link to SafeNess app
