[Brussels, 16 December 2016] Last week, we held our annual end-of-the-year feminist party at Via Via Café Brussels. Friends, activists, partner organisations and EU Brussels policy-makers and campaigners joined us for an evening filled with debate, books, poetry and music.
EWL Secretary General Joanna Maycock: “It has not been an easy year for women’s rights worldwide. Is it hard to have progress, to really imagine a world where women and men are truly equal, and that we’re going to get there. But it doesn’t mean you can’t feel hopeful and be engaged in imagining new ways to live our lives. For me, hope is absolutely essential. If we lose hope, the forces of oppression and violence have won. Raymond Williams said, “to be truly radical is to make hope possible rather than despair inevitable.” I think that is absolutely spot on. It’s our job as activists and radicals to keep imagining a better society. That’s not blind optimism but you’ve got to work towards it; it inspires you, and it inspires your mobilisation.”
That is why we organised this festive evening, consisting of showcasing feminist art across Europe. Have emerging and established artists and/or activists push the boundaries of feminisms. A a night of celebration of the feminist movement through an artistic lens in the heart of Brussels.
An artist’s duty, is to reflect the times (quote Nina Simone)
Since 2011, we have been celebrating St Nicolette as a way of looking back on the successes and achievements of the women’s movement. This year, in collaboration with the City of Brussels Egalité des Chances, we combined the event with FEMtalks.
Turkish author Elif Shafak could not attend the event, but wished us a great evening, calling on sisterhood in Europe and worldwide. See the video here:
Elif Shafak videomessage
On the programme this year: FEMtalk with Kat Banyard Author of ’Pimp State’ & ’The Equality Illusion’, founder of UK Feminista, Tracey Agyeman, Young feminist activist, author of Fluidity (EWL), Elles Tournent Dames Draaien feminist film festival, slampoetry by Samira Saleh, Feminist book sale by Sterling Books and music by Maïcha.
Find pictures here, thanks for joining us and see you next year!
This event was supported by the City of Brussel & the Rights, Equality and Citizenship (REC) Programme of the European Union
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womenlobby.org
17 November 2025
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