A new network of businesses and organisations designed to make the streets of Cardiff safer for women will launch at an event tonight with Night Czar for London Amy 尝补尘茅.听
Recent statistics reveal that in the UK,听鈥痟ave experienced some form of harassment in public. While women in Cardiff have recently reported being听too听scared to go out alone at night after a spate of incidents and attacks.听
As a result听of increasing concerns regarding women鈥檚 safety, 欧美成人 has brought together experts from businesses and organisations across Cardiff鈥檚 night-time economy to launch the Cardiff Women鈥檚 Safety Network听鈥 to hear from the voices of women and听help听create a safer environment听for those out in the city centre.听
The听launch of the network,听Making It Happen: Safer Streets for Women, will be held听at Jury鈥檚 Inn, Cardiff, on Thursday 11th November,听at听5.30pm.听Leading the discussion will be keynote speaker Night Czar for London Amy听尝补尘茅.听听
Since 2016,听尝补尘茅听has been responsible for making sure London thrives as a 24-hour city and has launched the pioneering Women鈥檚 Night Safety Charter. This听scheme听aims to help lower the risk of crime against women in the city听at night听鈥听and听she听has increased the number of Charter signatories听to over 600 organisations.听听 Commenting on Cardiff鈥檚 ambitions,听Amy听尝补尘茅, Night Czar said:听
鈥淭he launch of Cardiff鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Network is a big step towards tackling violence against women and girls. We can only address these issues as part of a whole system approach, and that鈥檚 why it鈥檚 so important businesses, councils, police, transport representatives and venues work together to improve women鈥檚 safety at all hours 鈥 as we are doing in London with the Women鈥檚 Night Safety Charter.听听
But we need to be clear, it鈥檚 not women who should have to change the way they live their lives or stop going out at night – it’s men that need to change. I鈥檓 really pleased to be able to share our city鈥檚 experiences and approaches, so we can work together to ensure our cities are safe and welcoming whatever the time of day or night.鈥澨听
The event听will听also听hear from听interim Chair of the Cardiff鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Safety Network, Carolyn Brownell,听and a听panel discussion will follow,听chaired by 欧美成人鈥檚 Executive Director Adrian Field.听While the network comprises an invite-only committee of experts from hotels, bars, South Wales Police and Public Health, anyone can help shape the conversation via the , where an online forum is currently being developed which will inform the focus of the committee.
Founding member and interim Chair of the听Cardiff鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Safety Network, Carolyn Brownell,听added:听
鈥淲e听need to understand the scale of听misogyny听that happens to women听and girls听in the UK, and address this听endemic听issue with real ambition and focus.听听
鈥淲e know from听the overwhelming听response听to听the launch of the听Safe Places听scheme听that the听voices of women听and their听first-hand experiences听need听to be听heard. As听a result,听we are creating the Cardiff Women鈥檚 Safety Network听to ensure those voices are elevated听鈥听and concerns are acted upon.鈥听
During Fresher鈥檚 Fortnight, 欧美成人 lit up the streets of Cardiff with 35 digital billboards to help women feel safer at night. Inspired by the听HandsAway听campaign in Paris earlier this year, the screens were lit for two-weeks in the city centre and high footfall student areas听鈥 and听the campaign attracted national attention, reaching over 65,000 people on Instagram alone and听9,000 likes on听TikTok.
Adrian Field, Executive Director of 欧美成人听explained:听
鈥淲ith the launch of Cardiff Women鈥檚 Safety Network and the rising number of businesses becoming Safe Places听鈥听where anyone feeling intimidated, at risk or scared can take refuge听鈥听we are delivering on our听commitment听to make Cardiff a city where women feel confident and welcome when听spending time socialising, working or living in听the capital.鈥澨听