District of Munich: “Safe Wiesn” campaign at schools – District of Munich

So that the “Ozapft is” at the Oktoberfest does not become “Ograpscht is”, the Kreisjugendring München-Land (KJR) and the municipal youth welfare organization are doing educational work at the secondary schools in the Munich district. During the playground activities, which are taking place for the tenth time this year, schoolchildren from the eighth grade upwards receive tips for a safe visit to the Wiesn. “Of course, many young people and young adults from the Munich district go to the Wiesn,” says Carina Lange from the KJR. That’s why the aim of the prevention campaign is to sensitize young people at an early age to how they can celebrate respectfully and mindfully, according to Lange.

Sexual assaults are not uncommon at the Oktoberfest due to the anonymity among many visitors and the excessive consumption of alcohol. 47 sexual offenses were reported to the police at the Oktoberfest in 2019, an increase of 4.4 percent compared to 2016. However, sexual assaults on the way home are not taken into account in the statistics. And the number of unreported cases is high: “Around 90 percent of women do not report sexual assault or rape for fear that they could be held responsible for the act because of their behavior,” informs the “Safe Oktoberfest for Girls and Women” campaign in their flyer, which this year is again available at all secondary schools in the district. This is also the case at the Erich Kästner School in Höhenkirchen-Siegertsbrunn, where representatives of the KJR and its cooperation partners talk to the tenth graders of the middle school about the possible dangers of visiting the Wiesn.

“Every attack, every photo under the dirndl is one too many”

“We must never forget the limits of our fellow human beings when celebrating, then everyone has fun,” Patrick Hey tells the students in the foyer. Hey works for the Condrobs association, which is behind the “Wiesn-Gentleman” campaign and has trained the social workers of the municipal youth care and the KJR for the prevention campaign. “Every attack, every photo under the dirndl is one too many,” says Hey. When they see a girl or woman who may be in an emergency situation, students and all Oktoberfest-goers should ask too many questions about whether help is needed. Young adults should also tell each other if they witness verbal or physical abuse of those around them.

“Take the advice literally, be gentlemen and don’t look away when someone is in trouble,” says the rector of the Erich Kästner School, Torsten Bergmühl. When he asked how many of them were planning to visit the Wiesn, about a third of the assembled tenth graders hesitantly raised their hand after the presentation. But Bergmühl doesn’t want to spoil the fun of partying for his students: For him, going to the Oktoberfest is anchored in the Bavarian DNA, he says. As long as you take care of your fellow human beings, nothing stands in the way of a good time in the beer tent. After the lecture, the students receive information material, badges, stickers, a symbolic bicycle bell and the time to ask questions.

“It’s important to us to address young people in a targeted manner and to raise awareness of the issue. The girls should be made aware early on that they don’t have to put up with everything just because they’re wearing a chic dirndl,” says Lisa Löffler from the Frauennotruf Munich , who also came to Höhenkirchen. Together with the Amyna and Imma associations, the Frauennotruf has created a “Safe Space” on the festival grounds as part of the “Safe Wiesn for girls” and women campaign, i.e. a safe place for people who are looking for free and, if desired, anonymous help. The Oktoberfest gentlemen are also represented on the festival grounds every day and specifically address boys and men. In the evenings at weekends, their “street workers” also help to find lost friends or alert the police or the emergency services in emergencies.