Eight feminist organizations from the Basque Country* announced, Friday June 28, that they had sent a letter to the mayor of Bayonne, Jean-René Etchegaray, aiming to challenge him on what they consider to be a lack of political ambition in terms of struggle against sexist and sexual violence.
“We are on the eve of the Bayonne Festival and it is clear that despite feminist mobilization for several years, the progress made to stop sexual and sexist violence during these festivals is still not up to the challenges and needs,” the various groups complain.
A lack of consideration
In their letter, the feminists regret that none of the proposals they had made during the round table organized on the occasion of the day of the fight against violence against women and gender minorities, on November 25, were retained for this new edition. They proposed, in particular, the establishment of at least four prevention sites, night patrols and “that the city hall carry a clear protocol against sexual and sexist violence.”
“What we know today is the only Maina stand, located in the usual place. No marauding planned in the evening or at night. And the end of the loan of the Barnum for Itaia Baionako Asemblada, the only collective that, last year, had carried out marauding all night. No protocol was produced by the town hall in the run-up to the Bayonne festivities, only the feminist collectives have implemented one. The promise of training increases (100 volunteers) has not been kept, since it is the same as in 2023,” the activists say.
“When will there be concrete and effective action against sexual and sexist violence at parties organized in Bayonne?”, the co-authors of the letter ask in conclusion.
* Family Planning Pays Basque, PAF!, Nous toutes Pays Basque, Bagera, Sutan, Ihurtzuri, Vizi Ecofeminismo, Azzete Dien.
