First aid
English
Ten tips that will help you, protect you, or bolster you in difficult situations. You’ll also find the „storehouse of knowledge“ here, which explains and classifies terms. Maybe you have a tip you’d like to pass on to others? You can leave it here. Because no one should look the other way when things get dicey!
A woman is being sexually harassed. What can I do?
Tip 1
Talk to the person concerned, signal support. It’s important not to feel alone in such situations. Think together about what to do and who you want to ask for help, for example at the bar counter.
Tip 2
Maybe you’d like to come up with something cool to say? But while you’re thinking something up, has the situation already passed? It’s important to make it clear that you also reject the behaviour. You don’t have to be particularly funny; sexist behaviour isn’t, either.
At a local festival, a right-wing group is becoming aggressive. What can I do?
Tip 1
Contact local officials or inform the police on the telephone number 110. Give your name, the location and describe the situation as calmly as possible.
Tip 2
If you’re not alone or can talk to other people at the festival, you can confront the group together. Often, the perpetrators are known to others. Calmly but firmly make it clear that you won’t tolerate their behaviour. Important: don’t put yourselves in danger.
Tip 3
If possible, document the situation, be sure to write down in detail what you recall. You can give the notes to a victim counselling service or monitoring centre. If there is a Bündnis gegen Rechts („Alliance against the Right“) on the festival ground, then think together about how you want to deal with the situation.
Someone is being attacked on the bus. What can I do?
Tip 1
Direct yourself to the bus driver and ask them to call the police and stop the bus. Alternatively, you can dial 110 directly. Describe the situation and the exact location of the attack as clearly as possible.
You can find a lot more information in English language at the website for VBRG (full English name: Association of Counselling Centres for Victims of Right-Wing, Racist and Anti-Semitic Violence in Germany): https://verband-brg.de/english/
Tip 2
Reach out to fellow travellers and, if possible, stand between the person being attacked and the attackers. Together, you can form a ring around the individual involved. Calmly but firmly ask the perpetrators to leave the victim alone. If possible, document the situation with your smartphone.
Tip 3
Offer your support to the victim: wait with them until the police or emergency services are on the scene and make yourself available as a witness. Ask the person being attacked what they want now, and make sure they aren’t left alone. Inform them about the support provided by victim counselling centres and contact the counselling centre. Don’t forget: write down in detail what you recall of the incident.
Someone in my social circle is becoming radicalised. What can I do?
Tip 1
If someone devalues others as „infidels“ or tries to impose their own religion on others, this can be a sign of religiously motivated radicalisation. It’s important to
clarify calmly whether it’s really about (e.g. Islamist) radicalisation or just devotion to a specific religion. The Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft religiös begründeter Extremismus (Federal Commitee on Religiously Motivated Extremism) can help you to find support in this matter.
Tip 2
Children want to form their own opinions and be heard. If they identify with right-wing extremist content, it can be very burdensome for parents. It’s important to show interest and seek open dialogue on an equal footing, but also to clarify the limits to intolerant statements.
A child is being ostracised at school. What can I do?
Tip 1
Support the marginalised person: ask them how you can help. Sometimes listening and being there is enough.
Tip 2
Find allies in the group and speak out together against exclusion. Together you’re stronger!
A person with a so-called intellectual disability is being laughed at, bullied or disregarded. What can I do?
Tip 1
If this situation happens to you, try to get help and dare to speak directly to other people who’ve seen the situation to enlist their help.
Tip 2
If you experience the situation in the context of public authorities, at school, when looking for accommodation or at work, you can contact an anti-discrimination
agency or a disability representative. These are available for all federal states in Germany, and additionally at many counselling centres.
Tip 3
If you observe such a situation, talk to the person who has the disability, signal your support. It’s important not to feel alone in such situations. Think together about what needs to be done and who you want to ask for help.
