Free to Be: Kampala

Cat-calling, stalking, groping and worse – it doesn’t matter where they live, girls face harassment and abuse on a daily basis all around the world, simply because of their gender.

The magnitude of this global issue is the basis of recent research by Plan International where over 21,000 girls across Delhi, Kampala, Lima, Madrid and Sydney reported the areas in their city where they feel safe and unsafe, using our digital mapping tool developed in partnership with Monash University.

Now, we’re launching the findings in our Free to Be: Kampala. Free to Be Kampala recorded nearly 1,300 valid pins from girls and young women under 30 years old. Girls and young women were primarily recruited by team members going to crowded areas and individually promoting the tool, directly encouraging participants to drop a pin and describe safe and unsafe areas or a specific incident. 80% of the pins were identified as ‘bad’ spots, and 20% as ‘good’ spots, with participants identifying significant challenges to moving around their city. Good places were often noted as having security presence, as well as a strong community environment and places they knew well and trusted.