Gironde. “Ask Angela”, a tool to tackle street harassment, has been rolled out in Bordeaux

Le Figaro Bordeaux

Where is Angela? A friendly sentence, but one that can allow you to quickly get to safety in case of harassment. Following the success of the device in Bordeaux, two other Gironde municipalities, Merignac and Saint-Medard-en-Jalles, adopted the mechanism.Ask Angelato combat sexual and gender-based violence. Anyone who is concerned or worried can go to a partner business and find help there by simply saying “.Where is Angela?“.

It’s been a year in Bordeaux.Ask Angelacreated by the Environment Municipality in collaboration with the Gironde Prefecture and the Departmental Directorate of Public Security (DDSP). “In one year, we have doubled the number of institutions participating in this system“, the deputy mayor for public tranquility, safety and prevention, Amine Smihhi, rejoices. Partner businesses are branded with pink and purple labels for recognition.

A hundred requests for a year in Bordeaux

According to government data:eight out of ten young women are afraid to go out alone at night“, and”most women were harassed or harassed on the street and on public transport“. Device “Ask Angela“Established in France since 2020, it therefore aims to:create a safe and unified network of places (bars, hotels, shops) to help and support people who find themselves in a situation of harassment.“. The experience has spread to many businesses in Bordeaux, from hairdressers to shopping malls. “And we’re in the process of expanding it to all of our public facilities—museums, libraries, gyms, and more.“, – notes Amine Smihi, so ““Ask Angela” is part of the general law of the prevention policy of the city of Bordeaux“.

One year, however, the use of this system remained quite low, with less than a hundred requests.which is pretty good news“, emphasizes the deputy. “This reassures us about the future of our city, we are not yet in an absolute state of emergency.“. For Amin Smihi “this device comes at the right time because it avoids the establishment and confirmation of a culture of insecurity“.

Keolis, operator of the TBM (Transports Bordeaux Métropole) network, has also launched a version in partnership with the city of Bordeaux. “Ask for Angela”. In January 2022, two stations and 10 tram trains were equipped with special emergency call terminals. Now there are 10 stations and 20 trains. “It is too early to assess the impact“However, the operator notes. But an online way to prepare the report a posteriori There is a lot of aggression in transporthit“. Through this, Keolis has already received 72 certificates this year.

System expansion in the Gironde

Inspired by what is being done in Bordeaux and transport, the two municipalities of the Bordeaux Metropolis, Merignac and Saint-Medard-en-Jalles, have in turn installed a new one.Ask Angela“. “We did it a little differently, starting with city services“However, clarifies Arnaud Durand, coordinator of the local council for security and crime prevention in Saint-Medard-en-Jalès. So far, 16 officers have been trained.to understand as well as possible the reception of victims, to accept them well, not to judge them and above all to guide them;“, if necessary, a casualty reception center. In 2023, it will be the turn of associative and commercial partners. By the end of 2023, the city hopes to train and educate around sixty people.

The experience also begins in Merignac, the second largest town in the township. “Unfortunately, we have more and more people who “compensate”.“, Marie Reckald, the deputy mayor of Merignac, emphasizes about harassment and cases of sexist and sexual violence. “Figures from police and justice departments show things are getting worse.“The device has”received a very favorable reception from traders“, the elected official clarifies. If it is not only directed at women, they are often the first victims. The training will start from the beginning of January for the store staff who want to join.Ask Angela“. Mérignac cinema is one of the first five partner institutions.

Happy that more and more municipalities are implementing this system, Amine Smihi highlights the positive impact in Bordeaux. “It turned out that “Ask for Angela” is increasingly becoming a standard in the choice of institutions that young women attend.A business that trains employees to deal with harassment therefore reassures customers by encouraging “a sense of security“.