Motherhood highlighted during Women's Rights Week in Brussels

The Equal Opportunities Unit of the City of Brussels launched its Women's Rights Week on Monday, to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8. The city’s theme this year is "motherhood, its choices, obstacles and challenges".

Lydia Mutyebele, alderman for equal opportunities for the City of Brussels, revealed at the launch that this issue will be addressed in such a way as to involve all women. "These themes will also highlight women who cannot have children, those who simply do not want children, people from the LGBTQI+ community (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer and Intersex and others) as well as the pressures, obstacles and prejudices that women encounter on a daily basis when it comes to motherhood."

"The theme is very important to me because I am a mother of two children myself,” she added. “I am aware that it's difficult to be a mother, but also not to be a mother. I have experienced both situations, because I only became a mother at the age of 41."

Exhibitions, conferences and debates are being organised during the week. "These exchanges of ideas and good practices will allow us to further enrich our actions aimed at gender equality and respect for the rights of all," added Brussels mayor Philippe Close.

The city will also install a breastfeeding bench so that mothers can breastfeed their infants away from the prying eyes of strangers. The bench has been designed by the 'femtech' brand Elvie. The bank will be temporarily placed in a secluded location in the city centre.

Women's Rights Week activities will run until Sunday. Among other things, there will be a conference on the obstacles and prejudices surrounding motherhood on Tuesday from 17:00 to 21:00, at the Brussels city hall. It will be accompanied by an exhibition of photographs of women and their sound testimonies.

A debate on the motherhood of women with disabilities will also be held at the Sleep Well Youth Hostel on Tuesday.

Short films by women directors who are interested in the subject of motherhood will be screened on Wednesday from 19:00 to 21:00 at the Aventure cinema. A conference on uterine fibroids will also be held on Saturday, from 14:00 to 18:00, at the city hall.

The programme for Women's Rights Week is available on the website of the City of Brussels as well as on the Facebook page of the Equal Opportunities Unit.