Appreciation for awareness work at the ESC

Appreciation for awareness work at the ESC

Awareness was a top priority to ensure that everyone felt safe and comfortable at the ESC. The comprehensive concept was unique in this form in Switzerland and should serve as a model for other major events. Opferhilfe beider Basel operated a 24/7 hotline and four Safer Spaces. Here we take stock.

Do you know of a victim counseling center that moves out of the regular office and into the middle of the nightlife of an event and talks to people on the spot about border violations they have just experienced, about fear, discomfort and very practical matters and offers its services? Or do you know a victim counseling center that spends entire nights and weekends on a hotline to offer quick, uncomplicated advice and information? If you read a little further, you will find out that you know one: Opferhilfe beider Basel.

The reason for this is the ESC. In the media release for the major event, the Basel government council promised the following: “Pioneering and low-threshold awareness concept for the ESC: 24/7 hotline, safer spaces and mobile awareness teams in the venues”. Opferhilfe beider Basel operated the Safer Spaces and the 24/7 hotline. Our team was on duty for a week together with over 30 volunteers.

Perhaps you are wondering whether this is part of the mission of a victim counseling center? From our point of view, the answer is yes.

Low-threshold offer

Counseling for people affected by violence must be accessible at a low threshold in order to be used. For a service to be low-threshold, it must be present and visible, preferably with a magenta vest like at the ESC. It needs a face, a voice and a partnership-based approach that focuses on those affected and their needs.

And what is the benefit if these bodies and people can be contacted immediately, quickly and easily in the event of a border violation? Why can’t this wait? In certain cases and situations, it is important to address stressful issues immediately. In other words, before they take up too much space and energy for those affected and cause them to develop far-reaching fears.

Gratitude and appreciation

What initial experiences and insights have we gained from the ESC awareness campaign? We have experienced a great deal of gratitude and goodwill from guests, visitors and the local population. People simply came up to us and thanked us for doing this and said it made them feel safe. Others nodded to us, smiled at us or asked questions to show their appreciation.

Awareness work is part of the security system

Major events have to deal with highly complex security challenges and a great deal of uncertainty. Collective security measures are of central importance. And this is where security services, the police and other emergency services have an incredible job to do. Awareness work takes place on a different level. This is about personal safety and freedom. People should feel safe, comfortable and free, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, skin color or origin.

It is a victim-centered approach. Awareness does not compete with the police, paramedics or a private security service. Rather, awareness complements and expands collective security with subjective security. This approach and attitude had to be communicated repeatedly to the security services involved at the ESC.

In exchange with security services

The conversations with police forces from outside the canton were particularly valuable. They were very curious and asked what our mission was. It was not uncommon for them to say that it would be important and useful for them too. It was the first joint deployment of so many security services. After this step, however, we must now move on. Now that the awareness partner institutions involved have approached the security services, we need to move in the other direction. Towards greater acceptance of awareness commitments by the security services.

Added value thanks to interaction between volunteers and professionals

The motivation of the volunteers was impressive and infectious. All the shifts were filled incredibly quickly. The five-and-a-half-hour training did not put anyone off. The diversity of society and the ESC audience was also evident in the volunteers. The visibility was primarily due to the large number of volunteers. The fact that they were in contact with professionals was enriching for both, and at important moments the volunteers were able to take a lot of pressure off the professionals.

Yes, there were border violations and criminal offenses

In the run-up to the event, the media and the public were particularly interested in one question: How many border violations will there be? A boundary violation does not have to be a criminal offense. A boundary violation can be when one person says to another: “Fuck off, you asshole”. Or more violently: “You gay paedophile, you have no business here, we can deal with this outside.” The victim support staff have had numerous conversations. Fortunately, there were only a few serious incidents. These then quickly occupied a member of staff for several hours.

In our view, another question is more important: how many border violations could be prevented thanks to visibility and presence? This is not easy to answer. Comparisons with similar events may provide some clues. However, we are already convinced that awareness visibility has a similar preventative effect as increased visibility in road traffic or youth work, for example.

Strenuous night work

The assignments at night were a special experience. Situations, contacts and conversations that the consultants are not familiar with from their daytime work. It was exciting to see how a city wakes up and to realize how many other people work at night. And yet no one was sad when the night work was over. The pleasures of daytime work outweigh…

Awareness is part of it

Awareness work will spread faster than many people think. It will position and establish itself as an indispensable part of events. Festivals for young people are showing us this, and individual clubs are demonstrating this impressively. Guests and visitors will demand this from event organizers. After all, safety and a sense of well-being are an essential part of going out and spending leisure time. And yes, it would certainly be better for a society if none of this were necessary because there would be no border violations. And here too, awareness can help and contribute to raising awareness, recognizing boundaries and respecting them.