Women’s Collective Introduce Sexual Harassment Safe Space At Coachella

INDIO, Calif. (CelebrityAccess) A Los Angeles-based consulting agency, woman, has partnered with Goldenvoice to introduce 24-hour access to mental health professionals specializing in sexual assault and harassment at the Coachella and Stagecoach festivals this year at the polo grounds in Indio, Calif.

Called Soteria, who is the Greek goddess of safety and preservation, the safe space will handle not only mental health and sexual harassment issues but any result of misconduct, assault or trauma triggers during the festival, according to The Hollywood Reporter. A team of trained safety ambassadors will be on hand.

“I believe that ‘safe space’ is not just a location but about safe people as well,” Soteria’s director of impact Eleuthra Lisch told The Hollywood Reporter. “Active and informed bystanders make whatever space they are in safer. “

Last year’s Coachella was the focus of a Teen Vogue article about rampant groping, with reporter Vera Papisova claiming she interviewed 54 women at the festival and 100 percent of them said they had been sexually harassed during the fest.

“As Hollywood is being turned upside down, many people ask me when the #MeToo and Times Up movements will shine a light on the decades of bad behavior and assault that take place in the music industry, and I can finally say ‘It’s happening right now!’  woman founder Michelle Pesce told THR. “Many grass roots organizations are implementing solutions to the problems that exist—woman. is a group of nightlife veterans who are working at some of the most inspired industry parties, music and film festivals, and Hollywood bars and clubs, and yet we see first-hand the socially accepted, yet often problematic behavior. We want these spaces to be fun and free and also safe for all [so we] decided to take action.”

h/t Hollywood Reporter