A petition circulating the advert trade is asking on the Cannes Lions Pageant to bolster protections in opposition to harassment and assault, urging organizers to strengthen protocols and higher publicize help methods for attendees.
Whereas Cannes Lions launched three designated Protected Zones at this yr’s pageant, two folks accustomed to the matter instructed ADWEEK that unclear protocols and restricted entry blunted their effectiveness—fueling the push for a extra complete strategy to security at future Cannes Lions occasions.
The petition, began by Emily Roberts, head of digital at Accountable Advertising Advisory and co-founder of The Ladies in Programmatic Community, had 380 signatures on the time of publication. It calls on Cannes Lions to implement clearer codes of conduct, seen and accessible help areas, necessary coaching for employees and companions, and confidential and trauma-informed reporting mechanisms.
Whereas the petition acknowledges the pageant’s present efforts to curb harrassment, it argues that “extra can and must be executed to guard all contributors.”
Cannes Lions launched three Protected Zones on the 2025 pageant, which passed off final week. The Protected Zones had been staffed by educated professionals and operated 22 hours per day—from 8:30 a.m. to six:30 a.m.—to help attendees who felt unsafe or wanted assist.
The Protected Zones had been situated inside the primary venue on the Palais des Festivals, on the Pantiero Terrace close to registration, in addition to throughout the Croisette at La Roseraie park. The measures adopted rising strain for motion after a number of ladies spoke out about their experiences of sexual harassment and assault throughout final yr’s occasion, ADWEEK beforehand reported.
Learn the total petition beneath:
The Subject
Cannes Lions: Worldwide Pageant of Creativity is a celebration of creativity, innovation, and international collaboration. However for a lot of attendees, issues about private security, significantly relating to sexual harassment and assault, solid a shadow over the expertise.
We imagine that everybody attending Cannes Lions deserves to really feel secure, revered, and supported. Whereas we acknowledge the efforts made to date, it’s clear that extra can and must be executed to guard all contributors.
We urge Cannes Lions to guide by instance and take stronger, proactive steps to make sure a secure and inclusive setting for all.
We respectfully name on Cannes Lions to:
- Strengthen and publicize the Code of Conduct to obviously outline unacceptable habits and penalties.
- Present seen, accessible help assets on-site, together with secure areas and educated personnel.
- Implement necessary coaching for employees, volunteers, and companions on harassment prevention and response.
- Set up confidential, trauma-informed reporting mechanisms that shield those that come ahead.
By taking these steps, Cannes Lions can set a worldwide commonplace for security and accountability within the inventive trade. Let’s work collectively to make Cannes Lions a spot the place creativity thrives -and everybody feels secure.
ADWEEK has reached out to Cannes Lions for remark.
