Safe space at the Oktoberfest: Assistance for girls and women
The Oktoberfest is a peaceful, enjoyable Volksfest with approximately 6- 7 million visitors annually from around the world. When so many people come together, there can always be situations in which quick help is needed. That's why the successful campaign "Safe Oktoberfest for girls and women" has been in existence since 2003, which supports the health department of the city of Munich. This campaign informs female visitors in advance and assists them in unpleasant situations, for example if they are harassed.
Help in risky situations
Since 2003, three Munich associations have been working on prevention, education and help for girls and women as part of the "Sichere Wiesn" campaign. At the local Safe Space (formerly known as Security Point), any girl or woman in an emergency, feeling insecure, disoriented or threatened can find support. Anyone who has lost their friends, keys or orientation, for example, can turn to the staff at the "Safe Space" with confidence. They help the visitors to make their way home safely. You can even recharge your mobile phone battery there. But even in difficult situations such as experienced physical or sexual violence or psychological crises, the Security Point staff provide support. The police and the district administration department (Kreisverwaltungsreferat) also provide support to all victims.
The Safe Space for girls and women
The Safe Space, at which all girls and women can get help with questions and problems, is located in the Service Center, which is near to the Bavaria statue and behind the Schottenhamel tent by the “Erste Hilfe” (“first aid”) entrance, where the police are also stationed.
„Sichere Wiesn“ (Safe Oktoberfest): Prevention and awareness-raising
If you are visiting the Oktoberfest for the first time, you can find out in advance on the website sicherewiesn.de - in ten languages including "Boarisch". Visitors also get these tips and information on the flyers, which are available in many hotels around the Oktoberfest or at the tourist information in the town hall, for example. The latest news can always be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. More than 200 girls and women use the service every year. Around three quarters of them do not come from Munich or the surrounding area. They travel from the USA, Australia, Italy or elsewhere in Germany. In the beginning, the counselling centre was housed in a small caravan, but now the shelter has a fixed location between the Wiesnwache (police) and "First Aid".
Opening times and contact:
- daily from 6 pm to 1 am
- fridays and saturdays, on October 2nd and 3rd additionally from 3 pm.
- Telephone: +49 (0) 89 / 890 57 45 188 (only during Oktoberfest).
Women's night cab for the ride home
In cooperation with the district administration, vouchers for the so-called "Women's Night Cab" are issued at Safe Space. This offer is intended to guarantee all girls* and women a safe ride home. All women* from the age of 16 (whether from Munich or not) are entitled to the vouchers worth 5 euros. The only condition: The ride must lead to a residential address. The vouchers can be redeemed daily between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and only one voucher can be used per ride.
