Negotiating Rights for Street Vendors: The Importance of Incorporating a Gender Perspective

Abstract

The role of the government is essential in securing both the right to livelihood and the right to safety. Women’s safety in public places increases when streets are occupied by women—whether they be women commuters, women idling and passing time or women street vendors. Drawing from Shirin Rai’s argument that a multiplicity of strategies of struggle are needed to use state fractions for advancing women’s rights, this paper will argue for linking the right to safety of women in public places with the rights of street hawkers to earn a livelihood. The safety of women increases with a vibrant street life. The rights of male and female street vendors should not be seen in isolation from the rights of women to use safe public places. Therefore, the process of negotiating rights to use public spaces for livelihood needs to be linked with eradicating violence against women.