On February 21, 2025, I had the honour of contributing to the final conference of the CRISSCROSS Project, held at the Centro de Informação Urbana de Lisboa (CIUL) and streamed online. The event brought together researchers, activists, policy experts, and community stakeholders to reflect on inclusive models of care and collaborative responses to gender-based violence in nightlife and leisure venues.
Titled “Gender-based violence in nightlife and leisure venues: moving forward inclusive models of care and collaborative responses,” the conference showcased the work and findings of the CRISSCROSS consortium, highlighting the importance of intersectional and interdisciplinary approaches to safety, consent, and substance use in nightlife contexts. The morning sessions focused on the project’s results and institutional recommendations, with contributions from partners across Europe, including Kosmicare, ABD, ACRA, and the European Union Drugs Agency.
I had the pleasure of closing the day’s programme with a short wrap-up, emphasizing the necessity of embedding care and collaboration into our nightlife infrastructures. These environments are not only spaces of leisure but also stages where social norms, power relations, and vulnerabilities intersect—demanding critical, creative, and inclusive responses.
Congratulations to the whole CRISSCROSS team for this inspiring and much-needed initiative. The work continues.
📍 CIUL Lisboa
🗓 February 21, 2025
🌐 crisscrossproject.org
Manuel Garcia-Ruiz 