hand holding phone with Uber appUber announced major changes today in response to the global epidemic of sexual violence. According to Uber communications, the ride-sharing industry leader will no longer require Uber riders, drivers or employees to arbitrate their individual claims of sexual assault or harassment; will give survivors of sexual assault and harassment the option to reach a settlement with Uber without a confidentiality requirement; and commit to publishing a safety transparency report that will include data on sexual assaults and other safety incidents that occur on the Uber platform in the US. Just hours after the announcement, USA Today reported that Lyft released a statement “…saying that it also would both remove the confidentiality requirement for sexual assault victims and end mandatory arbitration requirements to those individuals.”
These changes in arbitration, confidentiality, and transparency provide greater protections for ride-sharers and avenues for recourse. Uber’s announcement comes months after CALCASA’s work with Uber and through our national partnership Raliance.  CALCASA works with influencers for change and seeks strategic partnerships including those where there are existing issues, where partners demonstrate a commitment to supporting survivors, and action to prevent sexual violence, harassment and abuse. Actions such as those announced today signal culture change in the fight to end sexual violence. We look forward to continued partnerships with industries like Uber that have committed to ending sexual violence.