Exploring women’s sexual harassment experiences on public transport in Lagos

Abstract

Sexual harassment on public transport is a global phenomenon, but there exist knowledge gaps in sub-Saharan Africa where prevalence of informal transit is a key factor. Our study explored women’s sexual harassment experiences on public transport and policy responses in Lagos, Nigeria. We relied on secondary data from academic research and UKAID Empower II final report. Using descriptive analysis, we found that sexual harassment such as deliberate contact, groping and offensive sexual comments occurred onboard, at bus stops, and mostly at night in Lagos. Women’s common reactions include shouting to discourage offenders; change of sitting position or disembarking from the vehicle. Women acquired defensive gadget, consciously select sitting position in vehicles and avoided travelling at certain periods of the day as coping strategies. Under-reporting of harassment was common and worsened by government’s weak policy response. Our findings, which resonate with global experiences, indicate that sexual harassment on public transport is critical in Lagos but not strongly addressed. We recommend more gender inclusive policies, awareness campaigns tailored to the cultural differences of different communities, adoption of the SHE CAN Tool and other best global practices to provide for and sustain women’s safety on public transport.