Catalonia’s public transport system will implement a digital “purple button” by 2027, introducing a unified protocol to combat gender-based violence and harassment across the region’s entire network. This significant measure aims to ensure a consistent, coordinated response to incidents.
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New Digital Safety Measures
The Generalitat, the Autoritat del Transport Metropolità (ATM), and transport operators are collaborating on this initiative. The digital “purple button” will be readily accessible via operators’ mobile applications. Activating the button will immediately trigger a protocol for detection, activation of measures, victim support, and incident registration. This ensures a homogeneous and coordinated response throughout the public transport system.
The measure will also include an anonymous mailbox. This feature allows users to detail incidents without needing to file an immediate formal report. Sara Hernández, Head of Mobility Service for the Department of Territory, stated, “The anonymous mailbox can greatly help to register more cases.” She added, “People do not always want to report what happened at the moment.”
Addressing Harassment on Public Transport
A 2020 survey, the first of its kind in Spain, highlighted the prevalence of harassment on public transport. It revealed that 57% of female public transport users experienced some form of harassment. This occurred at least once in the preceding two years.
The survey also showed a stark age difference in these experiences. 92% of women aged 16 to 29 reported harassment, compared to 25% of those over 65. Common incidents included space invasion, excessive proximity, lewd stares, and comments about appearance or clothing.
Núria Pérez from Institut Metròpoli and a member of the association Promoció del Transport Públic (PTP) noted that crowded places, such as the metro, often see more frequent, anonymous harassment. Conversely, more serious sexual assaults tend to occur in isolated and less frequented areas, like dimly lit interchanges. The 2020 survey indicated low reporting levels, with only 33% communicating incidents, primarily to friends and family, rather than making formal complaints. Pérez suggested, “Then there were fewer points of attention; now perhaps this has changed.”
Comprehensive Strategic Plan
Hernández emphasised the button’s importance, stating, “The purple button is fundamental, as it is very simple for users.” She also explained that it “represents the digitalisation of all circuits.” The Generalitat will explain the full details of the protocol and its implementation to operators by the end of this month. Hernández reported, “We are encountering a good reception” from operators.
Training for all operator staff, security personnel, and the Mossos d’Esquadra is crucial for the successful launch of this unified protocol. The Generalitat is working to establish a consensual circuit with all involved agents. This circuit will adapt to the specific characteristics of each operator. Five different circuits are established for rail transport, including urban and interurban trains, and six for road transport, covering urban and interurban bus networks. The protocol adapts to whether harassment occurs in a carriage, on a platform, or at a bus or train station.
This initiative forms the central action of the Strategic Mobility and Gender Plan. The Govern and the Autoritat del Transport Metropolità approved this plan in April 2024. The second version of the plan, approved in September 2024, includes 43 measures. These measures cover prevention and detection systems, data collection, improvements in safety perception, communication, and training for operators and administration. Additionally, the plan includes a guide for designing bus and Rodalies train stations. Hernández explained, “We have conducted audits in stations across Catalonia to draft these guides.”
Future Monitoring and Evaluation
The Generalitat plans to conduct a second survey in 2026. This follow-up will assess how the situation has evolved since 2020. It will also help determine the effectiveness of the current measures and if the region is “on the right track” in combating gender-based violence on public transport.
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Originally published by El Periódico Barcelona. Read original article.
