The Philippine Embassy in Brussels held and participated in activities with the Filipino community to celebrate the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women.

On 18 November 2023, the Embassy and the Migrant Workers’ Office (MWO) in Berlin, in cooperation with the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Luxembourg and members of Women Helping Women (WHW) – Luxembourg, conducted a Forum for Nannies and Au Pairs at the EY Auditorium in Kirchberg, Luxembourg. Vice Consul Ma. Filonila Alcaraz-Arguelles and MWO–Berlin Officer-in-Charge Delia Palomar provided information on the the rights and responsibilities of au pairs and nannies in Luxembourg, as well as the Philippine and Luxembourgish government processes they need to comply with to be able to work legally. They also gave advice on what to do in case the nannies and au pairs become victims of violence. In turn, the participants shared with one another their experiences, particularly as former au pairs who eventually became nannies or long-term residents. The forum also served as a venue for au pairs and nannies to get to know members of the WHW – Luxembourg.

On 02 December 2023, the Embassy and members of WHW – Belgium held Move Your Body: Movement Interpretation and Arnis for Beginners at the Salle de Kring in Merksem, Antwerp. The participants actively joined arnis and movement interpretation activities taught by two members of WHW – Belgium, Ms. Suzette Villanueva and Ms. Mylene Factora. Honorary Consul General for Flanders Ronny de Blaere was also present to give advice on what victims of domestic violence should do and how to help them.

Finally, Post participated in a roundtable discussion on domestic violence in “mixed” couples involving Asians on 08 December 2023. Third Secretary and Vice Consul Ma. Filonila Alcaraz-Arguelles presented the Embassy’s activities in assisting and empowering Filipino victims of domestic violence, in particular the role of WHW as a conduit between the victims and the Embassy and/or Belgian institutions. The event was organized by BelMix, a research project on Belgian-Asian couples led by Filipino researcher Dr. Asuncion Fresnoza-Flot, at the Laboratory of Anthropology of Contemporary Worlds (LAMC) of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB).

The Women Helping Women Network brings together stakeholders and advocates of women’s rights and gender equality to address the various concerns of Filipinos in Belgium and Luxembourg. The various activities were held to increase awareness and knowledge among women clients on their rights in Belgium and Luxembourg and on other gender-related issues they may encounter such as gender-based violence.

Embassy forum with au pairs and nannies in Luxembourg, 18 November 2023.

Vice Consul Vice Consul Ma. Filonila Alcaraz-Arguelles and MWO–Berlin Officer-in-Charge Delia Palomar with the au pairs and nannies in Luxembourg, 18 November 2023.

Members of Women Helping Women – Belgium and Embassy staff learning arnis for beginners in Merksem, Antwerp, 02 December 2023.

Members of Women Helping Women – Belgium and Embassy staff learning movement interpretation in Merksem, Antwerp, 02 December 2023.

Members of Women Helping Women – Belgium during an information session break in Merksem, Antwerp, 02 December 2023.

Poster for the Roundtable Discussion on “Domestic Violence in ‘Mixed’ Couples Involving Asians” by the BelMix research project at the Laboratory of Anthropology of Contemporary Worlds (LAMC) of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 08 December 2023.