This is a safer space for women, girls and gender-diverse folks. Everyone here has a right to feel mentally and physically safe, supported and respected.
Safe spaces provide a network of respect and understanding, where sexism and harassment — including lewd comments, leering or unwanted touching — will result in you being removed.
Your safe space might be a classroom that welcomes all identities and promotes open expression without hate. It might be your university’s open mic nights that foster non-judgmental spaces for dialogue, support and empowerment between students. Or, it might be your local gay bar that gives space for queer people to freely express themselves in an accepting environment.
WIRE’s Walk-In Centre is a safe space for all women, non-binary and gender-diverse people. Here, you can get access to counselling support, referrals, information, free computer and internet access as well as complimentary tea and coffee.
How can we make the spaces that we occupy safer for everyone?
Start with checking your privilege at the door.
We’ve added a spot on the poster to put the contact name and number of someone who will take responsibility to respond to incidents that might occur — that’s one reason why we use the word ‘safer’ rather than ‘safe’ to describe the space. It’s also important that you have a policy in place for what you will do if the safety of others is breached — and that you follow through with the consequences you’ve committed to.