The Cabildo of Tenerife has introduced a nightlife protocol as an “effective and practical tool” aimed at addressing gender violence that may arise in these public spaces, involving both the local administration and the business sector.
This announcement was made on Friday by the insular director of Equality, Patricia de León, who clarified that up to seven nightlife venues in Tenerife have engaged in the initiative, along with the councils of Adeje, Arona, and Puerto de la Cruz, as well as the Organic Gender Violence Unit of Tenerife.
The protocol offers “clear guidelines” for individuals working in nightlife on how to respond in such situations; it includes training provided by the participating municipalities and initiates a campaign to raise awareness about the existence of this violence and to promote preventive measures.
Additionally, de León explained that the protocol will enhance the coordination between State Security Forces and Bodies with the nightlife business community, aiming to ensure a “coordinated, comprehensive and collective” response in these environments when faced with potential violence.
This nightlife initiative forms part of the Strategic Action Plan for the Prevention of Gender Violence among pre-adolescents, adolescents, and young people in Tenerife, which was approved by the government council this November and outlines a total of 200 actions.
During the participatory process for preparing this document, over 600 young people contributed via various methods, including interviews and meetings, alongside input from 40 public and private entities and non-governmental organisations, stated the president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Rosa Dávila.
Dávila emphasised the prevalence of gender violence among youths with statistics: “Among the surveyed girls aged between 12 and 20, 77% indicated they had experienced gender violence, predominantly from the age cohort of 17 to 20.”
She highlighted that psychological violence is the “most prevalent” form, occurring under the guise of social media, including control over attire, friendships, and the use of various applications, yet “many of these girls do not recognise it as violence.”
Patricia de León specified that the 200 actions included in the Strategic Plan for the Prevention of Gender Violence among youth have been developed through “collaborative and participatory efforts,” encompassing various types of preventive strategies.
The measures have been organised into thematic blocks and strategic lines, with particular emphasis on coordination, research, awareness, training, and advisory support, in addition to intervention.
Prominent among the addressed thematic blocks are socio-educational intervention in formal education settings, sexual affective education, making public spaces safer, and providing care and intervention for young victims of gender violence, among others.
