Name: Together Against Gender-Based Violence – Inauguration of the 2nd Red Bench in Brussels
Start: 2026-01-16T13:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-01-16T15:00:00+01:00
Location: Rue de la Victoire 126, Saint-Gilles, Bruxelles-Capitale, BE, 1060

$Together Against Gender-Based Violence \u2013 Inauguration of the 2nd Red Bench in Brussels$

The Red Bench Inauguration Ceremony in Saint-Gilles is a symbolic and collective moment dedicated to the prevention of gender-based and sexual violence, and to the promotion of memory, education, and civic engagement in public space.
The ceremony will take place in the presence of high-level institutional representatives and civil society actors, highlighting strong cooperation between local authorities, national institutions, and youth-led organisations.
The event will be attended by the Embassy of Italy in Belgium, represented by Federica Favi, Ambassador of Italy in Belgium, and by the Consulate General of Italy in Brussels, represented by Francesco Varriale, Consul General of Italy in Brussels.
The Municipality of Saint-Gilles will be represented by its Mayor, Jean Spinette.
Civil society engagement will be represented by EDUXO – European Network for Democracy and Equality ASBL, through its President Isabella Sofia De Gregorio, who will highlight the origins of the Red Bench project, its educational dimension, and the active role of young people and volunteers in restoring and painting the bench.
The ceremony will also involve the COMITES Brussels, Brabant and Flanders, with the participation to be confirmed of Alessandra Buffa, President.
At the heart of the ceremony are the voices of young people, who actively contributed to the co-creation of the Red Bench and will share reflections, texts, and collective messages on what this symbol represents for them today. Through institutional speeches, youth testimonies, and a shared symbolic inauguration moment, the Red Bench becomes a permanent reminder of collective responsibility, remembrance of victims of femicide, and commitment to prevention.
This ceremony marks the first step of a long-term educational and participatory pathway developed jointly by EDUXO, the Municipality of Saint-Gilles, and the educational community of the LIRL, aiming to foster awareness, dialogue, and lasting social change.
13:00 – 13:15 | Welcome of participants
Musical welcome for institutional guests, students, and representatives of the associative sector
Distribution of a symbolic red ribbon and commemorative keepsake to participants (EDUXO)
13:15 – 13:31 | Official opening and speeches
Welcome address by Ms Catherine François, Alderman for Education (3 min), and the Mayor of Saint-Gilles, Jean Spinette (3 min)
Presentation of the Red Bench project and its symbolic significance by Ms Isabella Sofia De Gregorio, President of EDUXO (5 min)
Speech by the Ambassador of Italy to Belgium, H.E. Federica Favi, on the importance of memory, cooperation, and the prevention of gender-based violence within Italian and European communities (5 min)
13:31 – 13:40 | Youth voices – Words and commitment
Collective reading of a manifesto or poem co-written by the students
13:40 – 13:45 | Symbolic moment – Official inauguration of the Red Bench
Cutting of the red ribbon by institutional representatives and students
Official photo
13:45 – 13:50 | Official closing
Final remarks by Ms Isabella Sofia De Gregorio, President of EDUXO
Presentation of next steps and follow-up actions
13:50 – 14:50 | Informal networking moment (organised by the Municipality of Saint-Gilles)
Informal exchange between institutions, associative partners, students, and participants
Friendship drink / reception