MW:M 2024
Safer Space Policy

Awareness is defined as to being attentive and sensitive to problems and discrimination. Outside of Germany, we instead often hear the phrase “Safer Space Policy” being used. Awareness is a concept that deals with respectful behavior towards one another. It is about supporting each other and creating a space in which everyone can feel comfortable, and no assaults or discriminatory behavior is tolerated. Boundary violations are defined individually by those affected: What incidents cause people to feel attacked, disrespected, discriminated against, hurt, belittled or overwhelmed is not questioned. What you believe to be a harmless little something, can be a traumatic experience for others. If you are not sure whether your behavior is okay, we recommend: Better to ask for consent once too often than crossing a boundary accidentally.

1. Consent
   Individual boundaries are to be respected: Only yes means yes!
2. We Believe Survivors
   Where assault, harassment or border crossing begins is only determined by the person affected.
3. Solidarity
   We do not question the perception of the affected person concerning the incident. Solidarity and making people feel safe is our primary goal. The Awareness staff also supports guests in case there is an incident concerning a team member, speaker or artists and will stand at their side in solidarity taking their side.

Awareness staff at MW:M on site

If you feel threatened, harassed or uncomfortable our trained awareness staff are available to talk to in case you need support or if you want to let us know that something has happened to someone else. They can be found at the information point and on site wearing a red backpack with a big yellow “A”.

If you see that another person needs help: get in touch with the awareness staff or ask the person concerned if everything is OK. Do not leave it to “others” to become active.

You do not have to explain or justify your experience or observation – we take all accounts seriously.

In the case of an emergency, you can speak to any staff member (e.g. at the bar, entrance etc.) and they will guide you to the awareness staff.

Support via Phone / Messenger: +49 178 2334400
You can reach the support team at any time using WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram or by calling.

Support via Email
awareness@mwm-berlin.de

Support Times Kulturbrauerei

• Tuesday November 12th  
  18:00-01:00 h Kesselhaus  (Entrance)
• Wednesday November 13th 
  10:00-20:00 h Palais Networking Area, 18:30-01:00 h Kesselhaus  (Entrance)
  
• Thursday November 14th 
  10:00-18:00 h Soda Restaurant
  18:00-01:00 h Kesselhaus (Entrance)

Support Satellite Events
Unfortunately, we won’t have awareness staff onsite at the Satellite Events. If you need support you can call our awareness staff on the general support number, and we will find a solution. 

If you would like to give us anonymous feedback or discuss incidents at Most Wanted: Music or other BMC events, you can do so here. Of course, you can also report problems within the team or with members of the BMC or Most Wanted: Music. We are also always happy to receive suggestions for improvement!

(WE) TAKE CARE
You have the right to feel safe at our event. If you feel harassed or uncomfortable, contact us. If you see that another person needs help, ask the person if they need support. You can also let us know – we take all reports seriously and will take action if a person violates our safer space policy. At the core of our code of conduct is the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) you can read about your legal rights concerning discrimination.

WE AIM TO BE A SAFER SPACE
We want everyone to feel accepted and welcome regardless of gender, sexuality, skin color, religion, age, race or ability. We therefore do not tolerate anti-semitism, racism, sexism, ableism, ageism or any other form of discrimination or harassment.

RESPECT BOUNDARIES – CONSENT IS EVERYTHING
Enjoy yourself at our event, but be sure to respect other people’s boundaries! Make sure the other person clearly signals that they want to talk or interact with you. Only the affected person has the right to decide when a boundary has been crossed – for some that will mean even shaking hands. If someone does no longer want to talk to you, we ask you to honor their boundary.

WE BELIEVE SURVIVORS
People who have suffered through an incident are at the heart of our actions, we believe their account and stand in solidarity with them. We want to make everyone feel safe and welcome.

GENDER IS NOT VISIBLE
Please do not infer the gender identity of the other person from their appearance. Just because you read someone as male or female does not mean that person identifies that way.

PRONOUNS
We encourage everyone to share their pronouns – there will be pronoun stickers available at the registration. We understand that this is not easy for all people, and of course accept if you’d rather not share yours. Please ask each person by which pronoun (he, she, they, none, …) they would like to be addressed. There are also people who do not use pronouns. Using the wrong pronouns can be hurtful and also traumatizing and should therefore be avoided whenever possible.

LANGUAGE MATTERS
We use gender and diversity sensitive language (and exclude the generic masculine in German language). We try to avoid gendered language such as „ladies first,“ „girl boss,“ or „real men“.

EMBRACE DIFFERENCES – THE FUTURE IS INTERSECTIONAL
When certain issues raise uncomfortable feelings for individuals, we stand with the person and remember that each person brings different experiences and thus also reacts differently to sensitive topics or microaggressions. We would like to create a space where we are open and welcoming to different perspectives, especially of marginalized communities like FLINTA+, LGBTIQ+, people with disabilities or BIPoC.

REFLECT YOUR PRIVILEGES
We all make mistakes. We ask you to take responsibility for your actions. When someone constructively criticizes you, please be open and listen.

SHARING KNOWLEDGE & LEARNING TOGETHER
We want to learn together and create safer spaces. We share relevant resources with each other to educate ourselves as a group. BIPoC and other marginalized groups are not responsible for the education of others. However, there are good organizations that you can reach out to and who can send you info material, book tips, and link recommendations. You can find more information at our Awareness Point (and soon on our website).

PARTICIPATE BUT LEAVE SPACE FOR OTHERS
All participants are encouraged to actively participate in discussions. None of us knows everything, but together we know a lot. However: Please be mindful of how much space and time you take in discussions and, if necessary, postpone your contributions to give others the opportunity to participate as well. And if you’re usually someone who does not speak up, try it!

INVISIBLE DISABILITIES
Please note that not every disadvantage is visible. Consider: What is normal for you is not necessarily so for everyone.

ALL-GENDER RESTROOMS
All toilets at Kulturbrauerei will be all-gender restrooms.

SAFER SPACE RETREAT ROOM
We provide a Safer Space retreat room that can be used in the event of an incident. You can also use the room if you are neurodivergent (ADHD/on the autism spectrum) and need some quiet time to decompress. The room will be quiet and with no bright lights.

RESPECT OTHER CULTURES: DECOLONIZE YOUR THINKING
We ask all attendees to show understanding, appreciation and respect for the original value of other cultures and acknowledge the power relations that exist between cultures. We would therefore ask you to refrain from the appropriation and instrumentalization of cultural, religious and political symbolism.

The detailed Code of Conduct of the Berlin Music Commmission eG can be found here.

If you witness a situation that seems to be harassment or discrimination,we encourage you to be an active bystander, if you are unsure what to do, here are our recommendations:

Whatever you do, make sure you are safe first!

DIRECT
Be clear and direct! Approach the assumed perpetrator and tell them that this looks like harassment and that they should stop. Or speak to the person who you suspect needs support and ask how they are doing. Ask if they need support and offer them your help.

DISTRACT
Try to de-escalate the situation indirectly by creating a diversion:

• Start a conversation with the perpetrator.
• Ask for the time, directions

Or get creative:

• drop something
• Start singing and dancing loudly.

Divert attention away from the person in need of support

DELEGATE
Ask another person for help (in the best case someone you trust) to intervene. This can be a friend, store owner, teacher, security, bus driver, or just someone on the street. Point out the incident and ask for help. If you want to involve someone from further away, address that person specifically: “Can you in the red sweater please help?”

DELAYED
We are not always able to intervene directly, but it is always possible to support someone after the situation has passed. Approach the person concerned and ask them:

• Are you okay?
• Is there anything I can do for you?
• Do you want me to call someone for you?

DOCUMENT
If you feel you are not safe or do not dare to help, you can document the situation (notes, picture, video) to give the affected person the opportunity to use this material, e.g. for a police report, afterwards. Never publish material of an assault without the consent of the involved persons. Inform the survivor that you witnessed the incident and offer to support them through being a witness in person or in writing.

Finally: If someone does not want help, respect their choices. If you feel that the person life is in immediate danger, alert the police. Remember though that the police is not a good choice for everyone.

• AnDi  – Anti Discrimination App for Berlin
  “AnDi” is a mobile app that provides valuable information on the topic of discrimination and equal treatment. It is available  in various languages and is barrier-free. With the app, incidents of discrimination can be reported directly and suitable counseling and assistance services can be found. AnDi provides help and advice and guides users safely through the app menu.
  Website
• Guide (needle) spiking and support options in Berlin

Here we gathered some information on your legal rights concerning discrimination from the AGG and LADG. For further reading and support, visit the source websites.

General Equal Treatment Act /Allgemeine Gleichbehandlungsgesetz / AGG)
“The AGG provides protection for persons who are discriminated against on the grounds of race or ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual identity. In the field of employment and profession, the protection by the AGG covers both, self-employment and gainful employment. Further to the areas of employment and profession, the AGG applies to access to and supply of goods and services, such as shopping, visits to restaurants or discotheques, searching for flats as well as insurance and banking transactions. “
(QUELLE: Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes)

Guide to the AGG in Englisch

The Berlin State Office for Equal Treatment and Against Discrimination  (Berliner Landesantidiskriminierungsstelle „LADS”) 

The LADG protect against discrimination within public-law activities of the State of Berlin (public administration and all public entities of the State of Berlin). This includes the Berlin Senate and district administrations (e.g. schools, the police, citizen offices) and direct public-law corporations (e.g. colleges, universities), institutions and foundations.

The LADG does not apply to

• discrimination by superiors, colleagues and third parties in the context of the employment relationship.
• in private legal relations (AGG applies).
• to joint federal and state institutions (Berlin Job Centres) and federal authorities – at least not directly.

Sexual harassment and instructions to carry out a discriminatory act are discrimination.

The independent Ombuds Office supports and advises people free-of- charge in enforcing their rights.

Source: LADG (English)

The content of this page is for informational purposes only and does not claim to be complete, current, or accurate.

Let us know if you see outdated information so we can update it.