Demand for Berlin Metro Carriages Designated as ‘anti-rape’
The Green party's proposal comes in response to an increase in violent crime affecting the transport network in the German capital. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The proposal for women-only metro carriages in Berlin comes amid an increase in violent crime on the city's transport network.
German MP Antje Kapek suggested this initiative in an interview with the Bild newspaper, citing a rise in violent assaults in public transport. She referred to a particularly disturbing case from earlier this year, where a 33-year-old man assaulted and raped a 63-year-old woman on the subway, then “calmly” left the scene and was later arrested.
Kapek emphasized that women are “frequently exposed to violence and have a greater need for protection.”
According to police data, nearly 4,200 violent crimes were reported on Berlin's metro, trains, and buses last year. In the first nine months of this year, that figure surged to over 5,600, with nearly 300 incidents classified as sexual offenses.
In her proposal, Kapek detailed that women-only carriages would be positioned either directly behind the driver or at the end of the train. She also suggested enhancing safety through increased video surveillance and installing emergency call boxes on platforms.
As a reference, Kapek pointed to Japan, where most metropolitan transit lines have implemented women-only carriages during peak hours to address the issue of groping against female passengers, a system initiated about 20 years ago.
Similar initiatives are seen in the Cairo Metro, the Rio de Janeiro Metro, and across train networks in India, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
When the German Press Agency inquired about the proposal, Berlin's transport company BVG stated that they consider the current safety measures adequate, citing existing alarm buttons in carriages, information boxes, and police presence at every station.
Right-wing politician Rolf Wiedenhaupt, from the Alternative for Germany party, dismissed the proposal as “absurd.” He stated, “Security is not created by separating victim categories, but by taking consistent action against criminals and by making quicker convictions,” as reported by Der Spiegel.
In a separate piece, Bild conducted interviews with women of varying ages to gather their thoughts on the initiative. All interviewees supported the idea and indicated they would utilize the women-only carriages. Many expressed feelings of insecurity in public transport and shared experiences of unwanted advances, such as staring or groping. However, one 83-year-old woman raised concerns about “how this is supposed to be controlled and whether men will stick to it.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
German MP Antje Kapek suggested this initiative in an interview with the Bild newspaper, citing a rise in violent assaults in public transport. She referred to a particularly disturbing case from earlier this year, where a 33-year-old man assaulted and raped a 63-year-old woman on the subway, then “calmly” left the scene and was later arrested.
Kapek emphasized that women are “frequently exposed to violence and have a greater need for protection.”
According to police data, nearly 4,200 violent crimes were reported on Berlin's metro, trains, and buses last year. In the first nine months of this year, that figure surged to over 5,600, with nearly 300 incidents classified as sexual offenses.
In her proposal, Kapek detailed that women-only carriages would be positioned either directly behind the driver or at the end of the train. She also suggested enhancing safety through increased video surveillance and installing emergency call boxes on platforms.
As a reference, Kapek pointed to Japan, where most metropolitan transit lines have implemented women-only carriages during peak hours to address the issue of groping against female passengers, a system initiated about 20 years ago.
Similar initiatives are seen in the Cairo Metro, the Rio de Janeiro Metro, and across train networks in India, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
When the German Press Agency inquired about the proposal, Berlin's transport company BVG stated that they consider the current safety measures adequate, citing existing alarm buttons in carriages, information boxes, and police presence at every station.
Right-wing politician Rolf Wiedenhaupt, from the Alternative for Germany party, dismissed the proposal as “absurd.” He stated, “Security is not created by separating victim categories, but by taking consistent action against criminals and by making quicker convictions,” as reported by Der Spiegel.
In a separate piece, Bild conducted interviews with women of varying ages to gather their thoughts on the initiative. All interviewees supported the idea and indicated they would utilize the women-only carriages. Many expressed feelings of insecurity in public transport and shared experiences of unwanted advances, such as staring or groping. However, one 83-year-old woman raised concerns about “how this is supposed to be controlled and whether men will stick to it.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
