The capital city administration plans to operate women-only buses oncertain routes during peak hours on trial basis as a move to countersexual harassment and stealing.

It has instructed the Hanoi Transport and Services Corporation (Transerco) to implement this plan.

Nguyen Quoc Hung, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, saidat a recent conference that women-only buses should be introduced inareas where female workers and students are vulnerable to sexualassault.

He said the move aims to combat sexual harassment of women and girls in public transport.

A survey of 2,046 people, conducted recently in Hanoi and HCMCity, showed that 57 percent of the women aged 16 and above feltsexual harassment was most likely to happen on the streets.

Asmany as 87 percent of the surveyed women and girls said that they hadexperienced sexual harassment in various forms, including being whistledand stared at, having their physical appearance commented upon andbeing teased and touched on sensitive parts of their bodies.

About 31 percent of school girls said they'd suffered sexual harassmenton buses, according to the survey, which was conducted by ActionAidVietnam and the Research Centre for Gender, Family and Environment inDevelopment.

Previously, the National Trafic Safety Committeehad asked the city to identify locations, public transport routes androad sections where sexual harassment occurs most often.-VNA