The Department of Equality of Orihuela City Council has launched a new campaign to prevent and raise awareness about sexual violence during the 2025 Reconquista Festivities. This initiative, carried out in collaboration with the Moros y Cristianos Festival Association, aims to ensure that all public celebrations are safe spaces, free from any form of sexual violence.
Councilor Agustina Rodríguez emphasized the ongoing commitment of the City Council to promote events that are free of sexist behaviors and sexual aggression. She highlighted the importance of raising public awareness about actions that undermine women’s safety and autonomy, especially during collective celebrations like local festivals.
Operating under the slogan “Turning Orihuela’s leisure spaces into violence-free zones,” the campaign includes a series of targeted actions focused on prevention, assistance, and intervention. On June 30, a meeting was held at the Moros y Cristianos Association headquarters to present a protocol developed by the Department of Equality.
This document outlines safety guidelines for festival groups, indicators to detect sexual violence, steps to take when someone asks for help, procedures for reporting assaults, and information on emergency services and support resources. Each festival group also received a list of available victim support services.
To strengthen visibility and awareness, the Department of Equality has created personalized posters for each group, which will be placed at entrances, bars, and restrooms. These designs include direct, youth-friendly messages intended to reinforce prevention at the most immediate level.
During the main days of the festival, July 17, 18, and 19, a specialized support tent called the “Sexual Violence-Free Zone” will be set up from 11:30 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. Staffed by psychologists, sexologists, equality promoters, and trained agents, this tent will provide immediate support for victims, record incidents, offer guidance and information, and coordinate with emergency services and police as needed.
Rodríguez stated that the aim is not only to eliminate sexist and aggressive behavior from the celebrations but also to support victims, inform the public, and ensure effective professional and emergency response.
Festival Association President Enrique Riquelme expressed his full support for the initiative and thanked the participating groups for their cooperation, stressing the importance of keeping the festivities safe, respectful, and inclusive.
The campaign adopts a warm, youthful tone, centered on the strong message that “being at a party is no excuse to cross boundaries” and that “caring for each other is also a way to celebrate.” It will be supported by physical posters, digital content for social media, and impactful merchandise, reinforcing Orihuela’s social commitment to equality and safe communal celebration.
