Harassment in transport: "Everyone, from an early age, must know the right reflexes"

On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, RATP, SNCF and Île-de-France Mobilités (IDFM) are mobilizing.

In addition to strengthening their arsenal of measures to fight against insecurity on their networks, these bodies are stepping up prevention actions and encouraging transport users to take action, when possible, and in complete safety, to put an end to the actions. stalkers.

Bénédicte Guitard, regional transport security delegate at Île-de-France Mobilités, presents the existing systems and discusses the progress that could be made.

How to fight against harassment in public transport?

BÉNÉDICTE GUITARD.

What is important is that a woman who has suffered sexual harassment in transport recognizes herself as a victim, and is recognized as such by society.

That we insist on the fact that this is not normal.

This is why we have set up a procedure to take care of them, we encourage them to file a complaint.

SNCF and RATP station agents are trained to welcome and guide victims.

But this is not enough.

It is also necessary that everyone, from an early age, know the right reflexes to act as they can, when they are witnesses.

What are the reflexes to have on the network in the presence of a stalker?

In addition to the 5 D method

, you can also call 31 17 or 31 177 by SMS.

It is an alert number for Ile-de-France transport.

The agents are trained to receive all types of calls, they can send security patrols.

But doesn't this 5D method consist in placing the responsibility for this violence on users a little?

Not at all. The 5D method is awareness raising. Île-de-France Mobilités has already strengthened the human presence in transport, with 1,000 security agents from Suge

, GPSR

but also private security agents. In September, Valérie Pécresse

has announced an additional staff of 1,000 officers who will be deployed over the duration of the mandate.

At the same time, we regularly call on the State to bring the number of police officers in the transport sub-directorate down to its 2012 level, ie 1,350. The network also has 80,000 cameras.

Not to mention the exploratory walks, on-demand stops on buses, etc.

But we are also pragmatic.

All of this is complementary.

And the users are an additional step even if they must be careful not to put themselves in danger.

Is violence decreasing on your network?

We observe that the facts of delinquency of all categories have decreased over the first months of 2021, compared to 2019. But I remain extremely cautious.

The year 2020 has been special and anyway, these are not numbers that will solve the issue of harassment of women in transport.

It must not exist and the world, man and woman, must be mobilized for it.