Berlin to provide 'safety zone' for women at New Year's event tonight

Two people have been killed by fireworks amid new year celebrations in Germany it has emerged

'By doing so one is saying there are safe zones and unsafe zones.

Wendt said the move appeared to ignore the "political dimension" in Germany, two years after hundreds of women reported being assaulted or robbed during New Year's Eve celebrations in Cologne. This would indicate "the end of equality, freedom of movement and self-determination", he added, stressing that women should have a right to be safe everywhere.

Organisers of a New Year's Eve party here are to set up a "safe zone" for women for the first time, a media report said on Friday.

"[Assaulted women] can stay here and calm down or speak to someone trained to offer psychological support", Anja Marx, the spokeswoman of Berlin's main New Year's Eve celebrations, told the Washington Post.

The number of rapes and sexual assaults recorded in Germany a year ago rose 12.8 per cent compared to 2015.

The country avoided a repeat of the mass groping in Cologne in 2016 amid heightened security and efforts to protect women from sexual harassment. For this season's event Berlin's main New Year's Eve party had a'safe space for women staffed by the Ge

Experts note that migrants in general aren't more likely to commit crimes than German citizens, but the proportion of crimes they commit may increase as they start to make up a larger share of the population.

The legislation, passed in July 2016, also made it easier to deport foreign nationals convicted of sex crimes.

This year's party will feature a new feature - a tented area staffed by the German Red Cross, designed for women who have been harassed, assaulted or feel threatened by other partygoers. Women can go to the safe zones when they are harassed or simply don't feel safe. Both organizers and police officials said they urge victims to file a complaint, to allow the police to take action.

The new security measures will be in place at the Brandenburg Gate and are a result of heightened concerns in Germany about sexual assaults at public events.

Speaking to the German daily Die Welt, a spokesperson for the organizers of the festivities noted that when a similar "safe zone" was erected on the ground of the Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich this year, 260 women found refuge there and only 30 of them then turned to the police. Other security measures planned for this year's event include concrete bollards and barricades, with large bags prohibited and visitor numbers strictly controlled.

More news: Closer Wade Davis reaches three-year deal with Rockies

Related News:

02 January 2018

Troy, NY, police arrest 2 in quadruple homicide
Both defendants were arraigned in Troy City Court and remanded to the Rensselaer County Jail without bail. Mann each face one count of murder in the first degree and four counts of murder in the second degree.

AT&T says all 50 states have opted into first responder network FirstNet
First responders across the United States now have access to FirstNet after all 50 states, two territories and Washington, D.C. opted into the network.

30 December 2017

Urgent need for blood donations in Charlottetown over holiday season
The giving of gifts over the holiday season can result in the giving of life getting lost in the shuffle. Donors with O blood types are part of a select group whose donations are compatible with everyone.
02 January 2018

Hollywood actresses, writers launch project to fight sexual harassment
As for Hollywood, it wants "swift and effective change to make the entertainment industry a safe and equitable place for everyone".

01 January 2018

Carlos Carvalhal in focus
We have a hard game against Tottenham on Tuesday, which will not be easy, and we have a very short time to prepare the strategy of the team".

31 December 2017

Penn State holds off Washington to win Fiesta Bowl
Washington was the final Pac-12 team to play in a bowl after the 2017 season. Look at McSorley's stat line on third downs. The Big Ten Network made sure to note that.
01 January 2018

Supply discipline and demand to prop up oil prices in 2018
The price for March Futures Brent oil grew by 0,67% to stand at $66,60 per barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange. Inventories excluding the nation's strategic reserve have declined more than 11 per cent in the a year ago .

01 January 2018

Kentucky Suffers Heartbreak In The Music City Bowl
Stephen Johnson connected with Tavin Richardson for a 26 yard gain and then again for a 37 yard pick-up down to the 3 yard line. Northwestern turned the interception into points when Jackson scored from 2 yards out, growing Northwestern's lead to 10.

31 December 2017

Unsafe cold will linger into New Year's Day
Anyone venturing outside this New Year's weekend should be very aware of the risky wind chills and frigid temperatures in Madison. With wind chills from -10 to -20 Sunday and Monday morning, frost bite will be possible on exposed skin within 30 minutes.
02 January 2018

South Korea offers Winter Olympic talks to North Korea
Kim said he will consider sending a delegation to the Winter Olympics Games to be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea , in February. Kim said in his televised New Year's address that the two Koreas should have "immediate talks" on the matter, Yonhap reported.

Markets end year with 28 pc gains
Infratel (+2.4%), Asian Paints (+2%), TCS (+1.7%), Tata Motors (+1.6%) and Axis Bank (+1.5%) were the top gainers on Nifty50. European markets were down in early trade with Paris CAC 40 falling 0.11 per cent, while Frankfurt's DAX shed 0.29 per cent.

31 December 2017

Vice President Mike Pence mocked by LGBTQ community at Colorado ski resort
In fact, some neighbors later came out to give the servicemen standing around in the cold some chili and corn muffins. In 2006, Pence supported a constitutional amendment that would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman.