Since launching the app for music festivals last year, it has had over 27,000 downloads. A further 2000 have downloaded Safer Plage for Marseilles’ Pointe-Rouge, Bonneveine, Les Catalans, Prado and Corbieres beaches - although responders are only available between 2pm to 9pm or 12pm to 7pm at Corbieres.
The city council says these times will be supplemented by “around 20 Marseille feminist associations” who would provide services on the beaches, in support of mediation.
Despite its proximity to the ‘gentil’ cities of Nice and Montpellier, the southern city has a reputation among the French for being dangerous.
Marseilles councillor Nathalie Tessier, who’s in charge of women’s rights, says the idea is not to worry women further but to chasten those picking on beach-goers.
“More than one in three women aged 18 to 34 has already been the victim of harassment on the beach. More than half of the respondents say they are afraid to go there alone: the idea is to shift the shame onto the harasser,” Le Parisien quoted Tessier.
This summer, the city is holding a media campaign to increase awareness of the rights of women facing sexual harassment. Also, on what constitutes harassment; that could be the physical, verbal or even taking photos of bathers without consent.
Where necessary, municipal police will be able to assist call-outs via the app, and have been given additional training.
In France, sexual harassment is punishable by two years’ imprisonment and a fine of €30,000 ($54,000).
