We now see them plastered on the windows of stores in Bordeaux, Lyon and Rouen.
Imagined on the British model, the sticker "Ask for Angela" (
Here, ask Angela, in French, editor's note
) has thus appeared in several French cities, and intends to fight against street harassment.
The first name Angela is rooted in the word "angel", a symbol of protection.
This new solidarity system, promoted by the government, aims to weave a network of safe places for victims who do not feel safe on the street.
Thus, each person in distress can now go to a business where this logo is displayed, and ask “Where is Angela?”.
To this question, launched like a coded message, the managers of these establishments know that they must immediately take the victim to safety and take care of him.
As such, the government calls on traders to fill out a form to join the network, and offers training to employees on how to react to victims.
Read alsoHow to react when you witness street harassment?
In video, a campaign against street harassment
This initiative is a continuation of the “Angela” plan, unveiled by the former Secretary of State for Equality between Women and Men, Marlène Schiappa, in May 2020. So in the heart of the health crisis and confinement, the latter said she was concerned with providing a safe place for women feeling in danger on the street, “in cases where there are no police officers present to verbalize a flagrante delicto”.
But while the initiative was only limited to bars and nightclubs, it now extends to local shops, hotels and restaurants, and at any time of the day.
Read also "It's worse than before": with confinement, women's feeling of insecurity is growing in the street
In video, a man discovers street harassment in the skin of a woman
8 out of 10 women
According to a YouGov poll, dating from last March, it is, in France, nearly 8 young women (between 18 and 24 years old) out of 10, who would not feel safe in the street - the majority of them having already been followed and harassed.
Figures supported by the "Barometer of street harassment 2022", published by the Ministry of the Interior, listing among the victims of "sexist insults" nearly 91% women in 2019 and 2020.
