As the insecure position of women and queer people in public space is not helped by surveillance control and incarceration at all, real solutions might be found in other fields. Imagine for a moment that you are a person who rides the subway to work on a daily basis. Imagine also having to walk to that subway in the morning and return home from it at night. Imagine this is a trip you have taken many times, and because this route is so familiar to you, you are aware of potential encounters that may take place along the way. So when you get up in the morning, there are decisions to make. Perhaps you will wear exactly what you want to wear, and this outfit reveals something of your body; your chest, your legs, your socially debated body hair. Perhaps this outfit — a short skirt, a collar, 4-inch heels — models your body in a light deemed by others (ads, tv, gossip, etc.) as sexual or deviant. Or, maybe, the outfit reveals an affiliation considered non-standard, such as a hijab, a kippah, or a mustache over a lipsticked mouth. Do you wear the selected outfit, the one you want to wear, or do you modify it? Neither of these options is a question of character but rather of strategy. Is your strategy invisibility, hypervigilance, or both? Do you anticipate protection? The project of keeping women and queer people safe in public space is a complicated one, owing not least of all to the complex question of why we, as a society, believe that they need protection. Read the full article on Failed Architecture Author: Jess Myers Recommended by Floor van Ditzhuyzen

Stories of creativity, collaboration and innovation from across South African cities These are stories of creativity, collaboration and innovation from across South African cities. From urban gardens to township cycling projects, to inner-city upliftment interventions, there is a lot to be proud of in our cities. In 2020 the South African Cities Network (SACN) called for inspiring stories of good practice across communities and neighbourhoods in South Africa. Over 30 stories of creativity, collaboration and innovation were received from diverse cities and towns. Four projects in Durban, Gqeberha, Cape Town and Johannesburg were selected to be featured as short films because of their innovative approach to partnering. Hosted by urbanist Rashiq Fataar of Our Future Cities, the series reveals the tenacity and spirit of the people who are driving change and having an impact on communities and lives.

The Arab Region has been facing several challenges. While some countries are facing socio-economic issues, others have been civil strife and conflict. In both cases, public spaces play an important role in tackling these issues, and in cities’ social, economic, health and environmental life, since they contribute to build social cohesion, improve the quality of human interactions and the physical and mental health of inhabitants. Based on this, UN-Habitat has been supporting the development of ‘Public Spaces in the Arab Region’ programme since 2016. The programme has been rehabilitating public spaces using participatory tools to foster sustainable development and ultimately achieve SDG 11, target 11.7.However, the implementation of these siloed projects, coupled with lack of data, inadequate design and improper management didn’t allow for the development of a strategic plan for public spaces in the cities of the Arab Region. Acknowledging such issues and challenges, the programme in cooperation with the UN-Habitat's Global Public Space programme is further developing the regional approach to focus on rehabilitating public spaces that are safe for the most vulnerable groups, in particular women and girls, given the violence they face in the public domain. The programme is also working with relevant stakeholders and authorities to upscale such projects and to develop a city-wide public space network that is aligned with a strategic action plan. Vol. 6 No. 1 (2021): Re-visioning Places of Public Gathering in the Contemporary Arab Urbanism Keywords: Arab Region, COVID response, urbanisation, public spaces, VAWG

SLUM is an installation conceived by Marco Piantoni and inspired by his documentary film "L'asino che vola (The Flying Donkey)" produced by the Italian Human Rights Federation, which deals with the problem of slavery in Mauritania through the story of the political/anti-slavery leader Biram Dah Abeid and his peaceful movement IRA Mauritania. The film tells how Biram has been fighting for years to eliminate the scourge of slavery in his country with the desire to free people still subjected to an inhuman practice that forces children, women and men to work without freedom, compensation, or instruction. In Mauritania in 1981 the abolition of slavery was achieved, but only in a formal way. In fact, the government did not give the economic, social and political means to allow slaves real emancipation. For this reason, in addition to the despicable practices directly related to slavery, many people live in cruel social and economic conditions, not worthy of even the slightest meaning of freedom. In Mauritania, during the production of the film, one of the elements that struck Marco Piantoni the most were the shacks in which these people lived. Dilapidated houses without electricity or drinking water, with hygienic and living conditions well below decency. Despite this, many people lived inside, especially children, full of vitality, dreams and hopes. From this contrast arises the concept of the installation SLUM at Museo Spazio Pubblico, and the desire to transpose/reproduce in the West (in Bologna) one of the shacks visited in Mauritania with the aim of highlighting the presence of vital energy and imagination in a reality in which it is difficult to feel free to act in accordance with one's wishes. SLUM by Marco Piantoni, Museo Spazio Pubblico, 22 October - 12 November 2022 At the opening on 22 October 2022, the film-maker Marco Piantoni presented the installation SLUM and his documentary film with Antonio Stango, President of the Italian Human Rights Federation, and Eleonora Mongelli, Vice President of the Italian Human Rights Federation, with the online participation of Vincent Kitio, Chief of Energy Unit at UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Watch the recording of the event (in Italian) on Youtube. Opening event of SLUM on 22 October 2022. The documentary film "L'asino che vola (The Flying Donkey)" received a special mention at the Urban Visions Film Festival promoted by City Space Architecture and part of the European project A-Place, co-funded by the Creative Europe Program of the European Union. Watch the trailer.

In modern cities, our public spaces represent our shared values. They are our common assets, owned, maintained and used by all members of our society. The outbreak of coronavirus and its immediate impacts, such as social distancing, have raised many questions about the role of public space in such times. Since the World Health Organisation declared the COVID-19 pandemic, countries had been forced to adopt social isolation measures very quickly. Australia has progressively increased enforceable social distancing measures. India’s nearly 1.4 billion people have been ordered not to leave their homes. In Europe, first Italy, then Spain, France, Belgium and the UK have entered periods of total lockdown. It’s happening closer to home in New Zealand. While the economic impacts of the pandemic are becoming obvious, the influence upon public space still remains uncertain. With businesses being forced to close and whole sectors urged to work from home, streetlife is grinding to a halt across the world. As fear of infection has increased, public transport use has plummeted. Australia is among the increasing numbers of countries to close “non-essential” public space, including restaurants, cafes and cinemas. Around the world, major sporting events, music concerts and comedy festivals have all been cancelled. Any non-essential travel and meetings are being discouraged or banned. Read the full article on The Conversation. Author: Tahj Rosmarin Recommended by Luisa Bravo

Engage her, give her a voice, and the opportunity to influence her environment. Involving girls in urban development will make the city better for everyone. Girls plan and design with diversity and different needs in mind. Participatory processes are key for planning a city that works for everyone. If we let citizens that are rarely heard be the experts, our cities and communities will become more inclusive, equal and sustainable. The purpose of the Her City initiative is to make methods and tools available to urban actors and cities globally. We support cities to scale up and mainstream girls’ participation in planning as a part of their long-term strategies to build sustainable cities and societies. Her City supports urban development from a girl’s perspective. We guide urban actors to implement projects through a step-by-step methodology providing an open and digitally accessible platform for all. We facilitate an ongoing dialogue between professionals and citizens. Her City is a joint urban development initiative by UN-Habitat (the United Nations Human Settlements Programme) and the Shared City Foundation. It was funded by Sida, Global Utmaning and the Swedish Innovation Agency (Vinnova) with contributions from Block by Block Foundation, White Architects, Swedish Union of Tenants and MethodKit. Her City is the result of the Urban Girls Movement launched in 2017 and financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), with the purpose to map efficient methods and tools that contribute to increased equality and inclusion in urban development. By letting Her guide you through the urban development process, you will improve the participatory urban planning, design and implementation that are key for building a city that works for girls and young women, and ultimately for everyone.