Sunday's national march to protest gender-based violence was attended by 2,600 according to police estimates– but organisers Mirabal Belgium put the count at 5,000 people.
Every year since 2017, Mirabal has organised protests in Brussels to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November.
"We are all standing together for the seventh year in a row to show our solidarity with victims of violence and to demand more decisive and effective action from governments," stated Mirabal before the march.
In Belgium, there have been 24 femicides this year alone, according to the Stop Femicides blog. Mirabal wants to combat sexist and sexual violence by fully implementing the legal framework established in recent years but also calls for greater attention to intersectional discrimination.
Thousands were expected to attend the march in Brussels this year, which began at 14:00 at Brussels-Central station. A community village was also set up at Mont des Arts from 12:00 onwards.
(Article continues below photos)
Credit: Belga / Anthony Gevaert
Credit: Belga / Anthony Gevaert
Credit: Belga / Anthony Gevaert
Credit: Belga / Anthony Gevaert
Credit: Belga / Anthony Gevaert
On Sunday, a number of NGOs, including Amnesty International, Ni Putes Ni Soumises and Revolution Feministe, marched holding banners. Other protestors held placards calling out rape, toxic masculinity as well as anti-systemic messages from left-wing factions.
The brutal murder of 22-year-old Italian student Giulia Cecchettin at the hands of her ex-boyfriend was also referenced in many placards on Sunday. The murder has gained international attention and galvanised Italian society into having a frank conversation about femicides and macho culture.
Credit: Belga / Anthony Gevaert
Credit: Belga / Anthony Gevaert
Credit: Belga / Anthony Gevaert
Arrests and incidents
The national demonstration was not without incident on Sunday afternoon. As the protest began, several individuals were pre-emptively detained and minor skirmishes occurred between protesters and the police during and after the event.
“At the start of the demo, we made pre-emptive administrative arrests of some participants,” states police spokesperson Ilse Van de Keere. “They had materials which suggested they might cause damage to public buildings. Last year, individuals exploited the protest to cause disorder and spray graffiti along the route, particularly on the Mont des Arts.”
Credit: Belga / Anthony Gevaert
A minor disturbance broke out on Rue de la Régence when a faction of protesters, also demonstrating against the violence in Gaza, attempted to diverge from the predetermined route. The Brussels police had to intervene, resorting to tear gas to block their way, according to Belga. Approached by RTBF, Mirabal condemned the group of protestors.
Tensions flared again at the end of the protest. At Mont des Arts, the police encircled a small number of protesters to conduct checks and searches. This didn’t sit well with a larger group of fellow protesters who surrounded the police, booing them.
Credit: Belga / Anthony Gevaert
The atmosphere was fraught but no major incidents ensued. The encircled protesters were released, and the police retreated amidst boisterous jeering.
