Gender responsive, inclusive and safe space for women for resilient and sustainable cities

The side event will highlight how despite that cities and semi urban spaces have access to better health facilities including, with the privatisation of health sector which is also a phenomenon most common in the cities, affordability is an issue specially for low income quintiles and those living in poverty. Women's health, specially their SRH gets least prioritised in situations when the families have to make a choice. Migration for better opportunities in the cities from rural areas is huge. As we see in countries like Cambodia and Bangladesh, migration specially for rural women are mostly in the informal and industrial sectors such as garment factories, entertainment, manufacturing industries Human rights violations including the violation of specially women's SRHR is high in these sectors. Similarly, despite justice mechanisms in place, sexual abuse and violence against women and girls in the cities are at alarming numbers. This calls for safe spaces for women and girls in public spaces.

The New Urban Agenda adopted in 2016 aims to achieve cities and human settlements where all persons are able to enjoy equal rights and opportunities, as well as their fundamental freedoms. Fundamental rights and freedoms cannot be achieved without the universal access to SRHR, specially for women and girls in the cities, and in the urbanisation process. A city cannot be inclusive and sustainable as long and gender inequality prevails, and that women and girls are unable to access the highest attainable standard of health in relation to their SRHR. Upholding SRHR of women and girls in the cities, and semi urban, sub-urban is crucial in order to achieve the New Urban Agenda's goal to end poverty and hunger in all its forms and dimensions; reduce inequalities; achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls and improve human health and wellbeing; foster resilience; and protect the environment.