In Russia, gender-based violence remains a pervasive issue, with official statistics showing that between thirteen and fourteen thousand people become victims of sexualized violence every year. Ninety percent of them are women and 75% to 90% are minors. Companion, known as "Poputchitza" (female travel partner) in Russian, is a feminist-driven initiative dedicated to enhancing safety and empowerment of women across Russia by developing city maps of unsafe places and managing online safe spaces. The project stands as a beacon of solidarity and signifies the importance of individual stories, helping those who have been silenced find their voice and make the world a safer place. Companion leverages technology to promote engagement and mutual support, violence prevention, tolerance and non-discrimination, personal safety responsibility, solidarity, and care. The team has developed and manages the initiative on a volunteer basis, and it invites others to contribute their efforts.

Theory of Change

Combining community engagement, awareness-raising, and technological solutions creates a safer environment for women and empowers them to live free from fear and gender-based violence.

Activities

The organization offers a range of services, including a city map highlighting unsafe areas based on user stories and a community chat for sharing experiences and finding travel partners. They are also developing an app that will allow users to share their location and send emergency alerts. In its public communication via Instagram, the project shares important practical recommendations for women, including a description of self-defense practices and memos on how to behave in dangerous places or situations like dark streets. Through its comprehensive approach, Companion fosters a supportive environment where women can connect, share, and stay safe. Working fully online and from across Russia, the team of volunteers consists of UX/UI, backend and frontend developers, web designers, SMM specialists, content managers, illustrators, writers, and marketing and fundraising specialists.

Results

Founded by three activists in December 2023 the project has grown into a team of sixteen. The supportive community unites over one hundred women. The maps of unsafe places are already launched in St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, and Yekaterinburg, and everyone can add a note about a known dangerous place via a chatbot. The next step will be to activate a map of safe spaces that will be available only to verified female users; at first through a closed community on Telegram and then later on the app itself.