Safer space
A safe city constitutes the foundation for the residents’ good life. In Vantaa, safer spaces are of particular importance, since numerous people of all ages and backgrounds use the city's premises. All the city’s premises are committed to promoting the safer space principle.
What does safer space mean?
A safer space means a space where everyone can be themselves without fear of discrimination, exclusion, or inappropriate treatment. It is a place where respect, inclusion and equality are seen in everyday acts. Safe premises are also easy-to-access and barrier-free. Our wish is that everybody feels welcome on the City of Vantaa premises as themselves.
Why?
The safer space principles verbalize things that may appear self-evident to some, but not to many others. Discrimination and the fear of discrimination are an everyday reality to many people, and sometimes the safer space principles make participation possible. The principles help us show that we take discrimination seriously and we wish to adhere to common rules.
The principles entail operating methods agreed together that support people's equality, mental wellbeing, and feeling of safety. Without the principles, harmful norms may arise in groups.
How?
Assembling the principles is a process, and the principles arise by doing together, not as some finished models. When people participate in the planning process, they commit themselves better to the principles and understand why they exist. It is easier to integrate the principles into everyday routines if they are clear to everyone from the very beginning.
The attached guidebook has support material for collecting and developing the principles. Each unit can apply them as required. Safer space principles may constitute one tool to prevent bullying. For the time being, the guidebook is only available in Finnish. The guidebook consists of, among other things,
- Workshop targeted at employees (Appendix 1)
- Workshop targeted at residents, as well as children and the young (Appendix 2)
- Survey and quick poll templates (Appendix 3, 4)
- Links to support material and training (Appendix 5)
- Youth dialogue to bolster operational culture (Appendix 6)
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Progress of work in Vantaa
The City of Vantaa is committed to adhering to the safer space principles on all the city's own premises. The work began as part of the UNICEF-coordinated Child Friendly City work and has then been integrated into the city’s wellbeing and health promotion work. Besides collecting the principles, another goal is to bolster operational culture related to them on all the premises.
You can read more on the Child Friendly City work here (link).