Hello hello and Happy National Women’s Month to all our fellow ravers and festival-goers! This month is a special time dedicated to celebrating and honoring the incredible contributions, achievements, and struggles of women throughout history and in our contemporary society. It’s a period to acknowledge the social, economic, cultural, and political milestones of women while raising awareness about gender equality, women’s rights, and global issues affecting women.
Last year, we shared resources to help women engage more in the EDM scene. This year, I’m excited to provide a compilation of women’s safety resources that I’ve discovered through my research and festival experiences. Below is a list of various websites and organizations dedicated to combating sexual violence, particularly within the music festival environment. Even though some organizations mentioned aren’t exclusively focused on festivals, I included them because of their valuable contributions.
**Please click on the organizations title to be directed to their website or socials**
Safer Spaces at Festivals: Launched in 2017, this campaign and charter of best practices aim to address sexual violence, harassment, and assault at festivals. It was relaunched in 2022 by AIF in partnership with Rape Crisis England and Wales, Good Night Out, Safe Gigs for Women, Girls Against, and UN Women.
Safe Gigs for Women: Collaborating with venues to reduce sexual assault in live music settings.
Stamp Out Spiking: A registered charity established to tackle incidents of spiking across the UK and worldwide. They focus on raising awareness of the dangers of spiking and offering practical solutions to keep individuals safe in various social settings.
Girls Against: A UK nonprofit organization standing up against sexual assault and misogyny in the live music scene.
Good Night Out Campaign: A campaign for safer nightlife, working with various stakeholders to ensure nights out are about fun and freedom, not fear.
Good Night Out Vancouver: A BC-based nonprofit committed to preventing and responding to sexual harassment and assault in hospitality, music, arts, and nightlife sectors.
Last Call Project: Based in Vancouver, BC, this project addresses sexual violence in hospitality spaces, offering the #NotMe app for reporting safety concerns.
Calling All Crows – #HereForTheMusic: Working to build safety against sexual violence within the music industry through prevention training and policy guidance.
Our Music My Body Campaign: A collaborative campaign raising awareness about sexual harassment in the music scene and promoting consensual music experiences.
JDOE: An encrypted and anonymous reporting platform designed to connect victims and witnesses with lawyers.
Maestra: Created Sexual Harassment Resources for Music Makers, covering support, advocacy, and information guides in the US, Canada, and the UK.
RAINN: The United States national sexual assault hotline (1-800-656-4673). This nonprofit is the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the nation providing multiple resources and support for rape, abuse, violence, and incest.
Festival Safe: A comprehensive website covering festival safety, particularly in the UK, offering valuable insights for festival-goers.
To Write Love on Her Arms: A non-profit movement dedicated to providing hope and help for individuals struggling with various challenges, including depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide.
We hope these resources contribute to creating safer and more inclusive festival environments for everyone. Let’s continue to support each other and advocate for safer spaces in the music community!
