Organisations across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park have banded together to launch today (Wednesday 10 May) a Women and Girls’ Safety Charter to promote and protect the safety of women on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and in the wider LLDC area.

The Charter came about after public consultation carried out in 2021 highlighted how women and girls may feel unsafe in the LLDC area. It emphasises the need for a collaborative and coordinated approach to address the concerns and barriers women face.

Organisations that have signed up to the charter include the London Boroughs of Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest; London Stadium; GLL; Canal and River Trust; Get Living; the Metropolitan Police and Westfield.

Organisations that sign up to the Charter agree to:

• Demonstrate to staff and customers that their organisation takes women’s safety seriously.
• Nominate a champion in their organisation who actively promotes women and girls’ safety.
• Respond constructively to consultation undertaken by LLDC and locally.
• Design, plan and build public realm with Women’s Safety at the forefront.
• Actively manage public spaces with Women’s Safety in mind.
• Reassure customers and staff that so far as we know their area is safe, and ensure they know what to do if they experience harassment when working, going out or travelling.
• Encourage reporting by victims and bystanders in their communications.
• Train staff to ensure that all women who report concerns are believed and all reports are recorded and actioned.
• Train staff on how to respond and, if necessary, intervene if women report feeling unsafe.

The signatories have pledged to work collaboratively towards achieving the goals of the charter and to hold themselves accountable for their commitments. They will meet regularly to review progress, share best practices, and address any challenges that arise.

Lyn Garner, LLDC Chief Executive, said: “I am proud that so many partners have come together to enshrine our efforts into protecting women and girls into our Charter.

I would like to place on record my thanks to our late colleague Pam Alexander. Pam was a passionate LLDC Board member who championed our work on the safety of women and girls.”