Find other ways to protect women

 Find other ways to protect women

WOMEN-ONLY cabins on MRT trains are impractical and unnecessary ("Women-only cabins not practical in Singapore"; yesterday).

So, the issue of a trade-off between economic efficiency and commuter safety is, therefore, irrelevant.

MRT trains are only one form of public transport. Public buses and LRT trains are also used extensively.

Hence, having women-only cabins on MRT trains is only a partial solution, if at all.

It is tantamount to cocooning women commuters temporarily, and they continue to be exposed to molestation risks on leaving the train.

We need more sustainable and robust measures to discourage molestation, not only in trains but anywhere in Singapore. These can include the installation of more closed-circuit television cameras, more police patrols, public education, a more vigilant and civic-minded public, and severe penalties and public shaming for molesters.


This article was first published on Mar 13, 2015.
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