By Eric King-
The creation of a a special safe zone for women at a New Year’s Eve celebration at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, has been blasted by the head of Germany’s police union. saying it implies that women celebrating outside the zone won’t be safe.
Rainer Wendt of the German Police Union (DPolG) told the Neuen Osnabrücker Zeitung, that a planned ‘Women’s Safety Area’ sends a “devastating message” that women who venture outside the designated safe zone will be susceptible to sexual assault.
The planned women’s Safety Area has been segregated into security zones and insecurity zones. Wendt insists it marks the end of equal rights, freedom of movement and self determination”.
Wendt said, adding that the zone marks “the end of equal rights, freedom of movement and self-determination.” Some women believe the security zones designed to protect women are positive and should be viewed as such, but men hoping to enjoy the company of women without restrictions will not be able to do so. Men wishing to make new year advances with women will be limited .
The union chief added that the zone has a negative “political dimension” and would revive fears of sexual attacks two years after hundreds of women reported being assaulted or robbed during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Cologne.
According to the Human Rights Act 1998, citizens have a right to move freely in a public place, but organisers would justify the controversial move by saying the limitations are necessary.
Berlin police proposed the move for Germany’s largest New Year’s Eve party after a similar system was introduced in Munich during the city’s annual Oktoberfest. Specially-trained staffers will be positioned by the security zone in what is expected to be a packed and brilliant night in Germany.