Select a region
Organisers of the 'Girls Night In' campaign "could not be happier" with Friday's boycott of Town venues. They now hope it inspires pubs and clubs to make widespread improvements so that women are safer on nights out.
A number of people stayed at home on Friday night or went to venues in other parishes after women were encouraged to avoid venues in St Peter Port between Le Val des Terres and the Lower Pollet. This was part of a campaign, which started in the UK, to promote awareness of the risks to women of drinks spiking, harassment and sexual assault on nights out.
On Saturday, the Girls Night In campaign said: "We could not be happier with how last night went and we hope you all enjoyed your nights in (or out!). We are overwhelmed by the strength of everyone coming together on this and we hope you are proud to have been a part of it."
View this post on Instagram
Pictured: It is hoped that Friday's boycott of Town encourages more people - including at pubs and clubs and in government - to take women's safety on nights out more seriously.
Organisers of the campaign want to remain anonymous, but agreed to speak to Express. They are calling for a scheme to assess and publicise venues' safety measures.
“We would like to see an accreditation system put in place and for venues to display their ratings publicly," they said.
"The accreditation system would be based on factors such as evidence of staff training, logs being kept by venues of any reports of these incidents, awareness of where to signpost victims, etc.
“Venues are not to blame for perpetrators' behaviour, but they can be doing a lot more to help."
This week attention will turn to how the States' Committee for Home Affairs intends to respond to the Girls Night In campaign. The Committee for Home Affairs is responsible for "crime prevention, law enforcement [and]…the association between justice and social policy".
At Wednesday's States' meeting, the Committee's President, Deputy Rob Prow, will face questions from Deputy Gavin St. Pier on the issues raised by the campaign, particularly the spiking of drinks.
Pictured: Deputy Gavin St. Pier, a father of three young women, wants to know how the Committee for Home Affairs intends to respond to the issues of women's safety on nights out which have been raised by the Girls Night In campaign.
The Girls Night In campaign praised some venues which have already started to introduce measures aimed at improving women's safety.
"We’ve been thrilled that some venues have already implemented a safe word, ordered StopTopps and NightCapIt products or provided lids for drinks, and have actively engaged with us," they said.
“We can all play a part in keeping ourselves and others as safe as possible and we are overwhelmed by the positive response this campaign has received.”
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Pictured: Some venues used social media to offer support to the Girls Night In campaign or reassure women that they are concerned about their safety, but the campaign insists that much more could and should be done.
The campaign has drawn popular support online. Including from Katie Lewis, who runs an Instagram page rating public conveniences. She says safety should be as high a priority as cleanliness for all licensed premises.
“I think the main thing with both my toilet reviews and now Girls Night In is that a lot of venues do listen to concerns, whether it be a lack of sanitary products or protecting the people that visit them," said Ms Lewis. "Some venues have set the bar high. I hope more will follow in their footsteps."
She said the Girls Night In campaign was important to her personally as she has experienced harassment at a local venue.
“I was looked after really well by the staff at the venue where it happened, so I was very fortunate," she said. "I feel safe when I am out because of this. I think it is so important to raise more awareness over these things and let businesses know what they can do to help.
“When I am out and about I am going to try and post a bit more on my loo account about the businesses that have supported Girls Night In as it’s a worthy cause and it's great to see there are a few taking it seriously.”
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.