The territorial delegate for Social Inclusion, Youth, Families and Equality, Francisco González Bellido, and the provincial coordinator of the Andalusian Institute for Women (IAM), María del Mar Esparza, have presented the campaign ‘There are things that you cannot forget this summer 900 200 999. Andalusian telephone line for women’ which seeks to strengthen the fight against gender and sexual violence this summer.
Along these lines, Bellido has asked women and those around them “not to let their guard down” in the face of gender and sexual violence during this summer season. This initiative focuses on the 900 200 999 telephone line, a free line, operating 24 hours a day, confidential, attended by professionals and which offers women information, advice and care in case of aggression. In addition, it is connected to the 112 Emergency telephone line, which speeds up response times and even detects whether an emergency call hides a possible case of gender violence.
Francisco González Bellido has regretted all the crimes that have occurred in recent days and has stressed that “the helpline for women does not go on holiday, it is always there, 365 days a year at any time.” He also pointed out that “although summer is a time when we change our routines, the resources against gender violence and sexual violence of the Junta de Andalucía do not change. They are even reinforced.”
Throughout the province
“Our aim is for this telephone number, 900 200 999, to become the number for all women,” said the delegate. Bellido added that “the campaign will be present on buses, outdoor spaces, festivals, parties, the media and social networks.” This initiative includes posters, videos, radio spots and pieces for social networks, as well as different outdoor formats such as mupis, buses and digital totems designed for festivals and concerts to reach young audiences.
For her part, the coordinator of the Andalusian Women’s Institute, María del Mar Esparza, has thanked «the involvement and response of all the municipalities in the province of Almería, the women’s centres, the Equality departments, among others, for joining this campaign and understanding that the eradication of gender violence is a matter for the whole society». Thus, she has advanced that «the 103 municipalities of Almería are hanging the posters, sharing the campaign on social networks and projecting the telephone number 900 200 999 on digital screens for this summer, such as the Salinas Sound Festival held in Roquetas de Mar from 5 to 7 July».
Esparza has extended her thanks to “social entities, women’s associations, cooperatives, companies from all sectors and collaborating entities that are joining this campaign to reach the largest possible number of women and all those around them.”
She also explained that “this campaign is designed to reach women aged 14 to over 65, through different strategies that include television advertisements, presence on social networks and in digital press, as well as outdoor advertising.” Esparza stressed that in addition to raising awareness among citizens in view of the summer, training has also been promoted for Civil Protection personnel so that the 7,000 volunteers in Andalusia know how to react to a case of gender violence and accompany the victim in the first moments.
For Esparza, “the fight against gender violence does not involve holidays, rest, or changes in routine. It only involves determination, continuity, never letting down one’s guard, and unity.” Along these lines, she has assured that “this is the fight of the whole society, of women and men,” while recalling that through resources such as the telephone number 900 200 999 “many lives are saved.”