A city bus parked in one of Nice’s busiest squares became the backdrop for a powerful public awareness campaign tackling sexual violence on public transportation.
On Monday afternoon, a striking visual took shape in Place Garibaldi as a city bus was stationed at the heart of the square for an awareness event organised by the association Alter Egaux, in partnership with Lignes d’Azur. The initiative aimed to shed light on the rising issue of sexual violence in public transit across the French Riviera.
According to a survey conducted by Alter Egaux, 58% of public transport users have experienced sexual violence. In addition, 68% have witnessed sexist behaviour, 44% reported seeing harassment, inappropriate advances, or prolonged staring, and 41% have observed acts of sexual violence. Despite this, 88% of witnesses neither intervene nor report these incidents.
“This initiative began in 2021, in collaboration with the president of Lignes d’Azur, to address the concerning increase in sexual violence on public transport across the Alpes-Maritimes,” Maty Diouf, Deputy Mayor of Nice, told Monaco Life. “Since then, we’ve recorded a 6% rise in reported cases, yet 81% of victims still choose not to come forward.”
Throughout the event, members of the public were invited to board the bus in small groups every 10 minutes, where they were asked to observe a one-minute silence to show solidarity with victims and reflect on the impact of this issue.
“Awareness must lead to action,” said Gaël Nofri, President of Lignes d’Azur. “Women should not have to avoid public transport early in the morning or late at night out of fear of being victimised.”
According to Lignes d’Azur, surveillance cameras are installed throughout the transit network and perpetrators risk up to five years in prison and fines of up to €75,000.
Following the demonstration, representatives from support organisations such as Maison d’Accueil and Demandez Angeladistributed resource cards with QR codes listing local victim support services. In a practical measure, drink covers were also handed out to women—designed to be placed over glasses in bars to help prevent drink spiking.
Anyone in the Alpes-Maritimes region seeking assistance can contact the victim support line at 04 97 13 52 00 or email accueil-victime@ville-ce.fr.
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Main photo by Monaco Life