Rising concerns about security in public spaces, work, and digital mediums take center stage as more and more women enter the workforce and contribute to the nation’s economy. There is a collective need for us as a society to make sure that world becomes a safer and equitable stage for each section of society. However, there is a need for women to possess essential knowledge, self defense techniques, and situational awareness in dealing with tricky situations as the outside world remains uncertain.

Situational Awareness

One must improve one’s awareness to avert the potential danger. Situational awareness refers to the individual’s ability to keenly observe, identify, and react to a danger before it becomes a serious threat.

• Trusting one’s intuition to gauge the situation
• Avoiding distractions such as earphones and mobile phones while walking
• Keeping a safe distance from unknown people when in isolated areas
• Being aware of emergency exits in places liked shopping malls, parking lots and offices in case of an emergency

Cyber safety: How to be safe in cyberspace

With the rise of deepfakes, scams, phishing, and ransomware attacks, women find themselves vulnerable toward a multitude of threats from the digital space and cyberspace. With the extensive reach of social media and fake news, derogatory posts and polarised opinions are often highlighted and spread throughout. This makes it imperative for us as a society to make the e-space more equitable, fair and safe. One must follow the measures given below to secure themselves:

• Reviewing privacy settings on applications and limiting personal data sharing
• When it comes to passwords, setting up two-factor authentication
• Reporting cyber harassment to state and central authorities at Cybercrime.gov.in

Legal Provisions for Women

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 provides significant protection to women in the event of mishap or crime. Several acts including POSH Act 2013 provides protection against sexual harassment at workplaces and the IT Act 2000 provides protection against cybercrimes.

Safety Gadgets and Mobile Apps

With the help of technology, various tools including GPS Safety tracker, smart rings or tactical flashlights can provide safety to women in need. Various mobile apps have been developed by state authorities including ‘My Safetipin’, ‘Bsafe’ and ‘CitizenCOP’ which ensures timely help and security provided to the victim.

Physical Safety & Self Defense Training

Enhancing women’s ability to swiftly react to unsafe situations can be enabled through physical training exercises. Self-defence workshops aid and empower women to defend themselves against the aggressor in a swift manner and increase their situational awareness.

Women Safety Training Programmes help in providing comprehensive training on various facets of safety including situational awareness, cyber safety, legal provisions, and physical safety training. This enables a holistic solution to ensure women are equipped to deal with the uncertain and unsafe world.

We at MitKat are committed to empower women with the skills and confidence to navigate challenging situations. With the help of industry leaders and subject matter experts, we offer women safety training programs to corporates and interest groups to make sure each women feels safe in the workplace and public spaces.

For more information, visit our website at https://mitkatadvisory.com/