“ONLY YES IS YES”. The motto of the anti-aggression campaign in Bilbao – Basque Country
Bilbao shields itself from sexist attacks in this Aste Nagusia with a commitment to the empowerment of women and the prevention of sexist behaviour. This was announced by Mayor Juan Mari Aburto during the presentation of the new Prevention and Awareness Campaign against sexist attacks promoted by the City Council for the festivities, which are celebrated from August 20 to 28. The press conference took place this morning at the Arriaga Theatre, and the Mayor was accompanied by the Councilor for Equality, Nekane Alonso, accompanied, in addition, by the Councilors for Festivities and Security, Itziar Urtasun and Amaia Arregi, from a representation of Bilboko Konpartsak and the Municipal Corporation.
The Biscayan capital kicks off its 42nd edition of Aste Nagusia next Saturday afternoon and the City Council has given an account of how the city is facing a festival where sexist attacks will not have a place, “we reinforce prevention policies of sexist violence to guarantee the conditions to create inclusive and safe festive spaces for women”, the Mayor pointed out. Likewise, it has expressed its position, once again, of “rejecting any type of aggression based on gender and sexual orientation that may occur”, and at the same time has shared its intention to “involve all citizens in the prevention of sexist violence against women”. Juan Mari Aburto recalled that “the Aste Nagusia City Council makes more and better resources and tools available to citizens to identify, prevent, confront and report attacks and situations of sexist violence”.
The campaign against the sexist aggressions of these parties recovers the widespread and forceful “NO ES NO” / “EZ BETI DA EZ”, and in the strategic line initiated in 2019, the importance of consent is added, the limit that determines if there is or not an aggression, with the motto “ONLY YES IS YES / BAKARRIK BAI DA BAI”. With a double objective of challenging both men and women to achieve the empowerment of women and to claim the active responsibility of men and society as a whole.
Regarding creativity, these slogans accompany Marijaia, the maximum defender of respectful and egalitarian Bilbao festivals, who raises her arms and hands to show her rejection of machismo.
respect for the consent and desire of women
This new campaign against violence against women designed for Aste Nagusia, wants to encourage women to freely express what they DO NOT want and what they DO want, and above all, that men and society as a whole respect these limits and these desires . During this month of August, the images of the campaign have been seen in different advertising media installed by the city and also on the municipal website and on social networks.
Its dissemination will continue during the festivities on the screens located on the concert stages, in the Tourist Offices of the Villa, and will also be extended to the troupes, shops, restaurants and hotels that want to join. At the same time, the City Council encourages citizens to share the images on their social profiles to show a set of rejection of any type of sexist aggression.
Likewise, the slogans have also been converted to English and French, and in this way, the group of people who visit Bilbao during these days of festivities in the Bilbao store as a space against aggressions.
Prevention campaign and municipal resources
With the beginning of the Big Week, the Consistory has activated the municipal strategy where, in addition to the municipal areas of Equality and Festivities, the Municipal Police and Social Services are involved. Although for the municipal strategy to be effective, the Mayor has declared that the active responsibility of citizens and social agents to denounce and act against any type of aggression is also essential.
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Bilbao City Council offers women victims of sexist violence a 24-hour care service, 365 days a year through the teams of the Municipal Social Emergency Service (SMUS) and the Municipal Police. In the event of an assault, the Consistory has a psychological and legal support service for the assaulted woman and for their relatives.
In the event of needing to report any type of aggression, the Consistory remembers the telephone numbers to call:
- Municipal Police and Emergencies: 092 and 112
- Municipal Social Emergencies Service: 94 470 14 60
- Equality Area: 94 420 48 38
The information is available on the cards and in the informative guides in Basque, Spanish, English and French. Brochures explaining what sexual assaults are and collecting recommendations to prevent and act in the event of any event of this type. The guides are also in a digital version and can be downloaded for mobile devices on the “Bilbao Aste Nagusia 2022” App, and are also available on the municipal website.
Purple point in the sand “MAITE JOKOA”
These cards and guides, together with badges and bracelets with the slogan “Only Yes is Yes”, can be obtained at the Information Point that the City Council will install in front of the Arriaga Theater, near the Arenal churrería. A tent where citizens can learn about the campaign materials as well as the resources available to them in the event that they are a victim or witness of a sexist attack.
This stand, which will be called “Maite Jokoa”, will be a set space and will serve as a photocall. Through this new post, with a casual tone and as a game, different sex education tips will be known:
- As a first flirtation, take note: Yes, it is a wish. It is not a limit.
- Nire ezetzak indar nahikoa du, ez dut esan behar “bikotea doubtik”.
- The limits I set are to respect myself, not to offend you.
- Without affective responsibility I don’t play.
Crews of young and old will be able to take pictures at this purple point and will be invited to spread these images or videos on social networks with the hashtag #SoloSÍEsSi #BakarrikBaiDaBai.
This purple point of “Maite Jokoa” opens in the afternoons, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., from Sunday 21 to Saturday 27.
Four purple dots at concerts
In addition, and as a novelty, the festive venue will house up to four Purple Points, where personnel trained in the matter will attend, accompany and offer help to those who require it. These points will be located two in Abandonibarra and another two in the Europa Park.
It was STOP
Also with the aim of avoiding possible sexual assaults, the City Council invites citizens to download the Era Stop application that offers a triple utility:
- Send an immediate signal to the Municipal Police when it is being affected, or the threat of a possible attack is felt close.
- Sound the alarm in the face of aggression if you witness it.
- Ask any of the contacts in our agenda for virtual accompaniment in real time during a journey.
action protocol
Likewise, as in previous editions, Bilbao City Council and Bilboko Konpartsak have agreed on a protocol for advice and action in the event of sexual assault in Aste Nagusia, which will be disseminated among the city’s social agents: konpartsak and Trade and Hospitality Associations.
The Equality Area has prevention and awareness programs to avoid any manifestation of violence against women. These are actions aimed at young people with workshops in educational centers and networking with social agents in the Villa or programs developed at neighborhood festivals for prevention and awareness and at the Bilbao BBK Live Festival, among others. others.