To combat violence in the nightlife sector, the collective Nous Toutes 06 launched the first stage of its “safe bar” operation a few days ago.
Since their creation, the Nice and Cannes accounts @balancetonbar have continuously pointed out issues related to drug-facilitated submission and sexual assaults in bars and nightclubs on the French Riviera.
According to a study conducted by the association Consentis in 2018 across the country, 60% of women surveyed reported having already been victims of harassment or sexual assault in festive environments.
In recent weeks, a new phenomenon has also been making headlines: “wild injections” in nightclubs.
In the form of a red mark a few millimeters in diameter, these syringe injections cause most victims to experience vomiting, hot flashes, and dizziness. Across France, more and more people are coming forward with their experiences, and despite blood tests conducted post-injection, no trace of a chemical substance is ever detected.
And while the exact content of the syringe is unknown, one of its major dangers remains the potential risk of HIV transmission. To prevent this, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV is available. It is intended for anyone who has been at risk of contamination, particularly in cases of potential syringe sharing. Victims can access this treatment at hospital emergency services, which are open 24/7.
Faced with all these issues, Nous Toutes 06, the collective against gender-based and sexual violence in the department, is spearheading a new project involving posters, training, and labeling.
In the first stage of this project, the collective launched a poster campaign inside bars and nightclubs in Nice. Establishments like Beer District and Akathor have already joined the initiative and agreed to adorn their walls with awareness messages.
For Elise, a member of the Nous Toutes 06 collective and responsible for the operation, the violence occurring in nightlife must no longer be trivialized and normalized: “Alcohol can no longer serve as a justification for violence; on the contrary, in the eyes of the law, it is an aggravating circumstance in cases of rape or sexual assault. A hand on the buttocks is a sexual assault, it’s a crime, and people need to realize this.”
These posters with unreserved slogans should continue to invade the walls of your favorite clubs and bars, with a single watchword: prevent violence in the nightlife scene.
Soon, Nous Toutes 06 will collaborate with the association Planning familial 06 and the mobile application Help and React to train the staff of establishments. After signing a charter, they can be awarded the “safe bar” label and will be listed as sensitized venues on the app.
“Establishments have a role to play; they can do something. Together, we can succeed in ensuring that these aggressors no longer exist, or at least, do not form part of these venues,” argued Elise.
To achieve their goals, the collective is calling for donations and the deployment of volunteers to cover the entire department: “We need volunteers and money to finance the printing of posters and carry out this project.”
