13 November 2025 – Palace of Justice – Speech by Eva
Good morning everyone. Thank you for being here, so early, and in the cold. I am Eva from Amnesty, and years ago I myself came to Belgium as a refugee, seeking safety. Despite this chilly morning, I mainly feel the warmth of your presence and solidarity.
Today I stand here not alone, but as part of something bigger: a community that refuses to forget what humanity means. We are here with Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen, Amnesty International, Ciré, BelRefugees and House of Compassion, and with many concerned citizens.
Why are we here at the Palace of Justice, with our sleeping bags in hand? To take action for dignified reception. Because nearly 1,800 people seeking protection today literally have to sleep on the street. Because even families with children are being left out in the cold by the authorities.
We roll out our sleeping bags on the pavement of the Palace of Justice to send a silent but powerful signal to our government. To show: this is what happens when the law no longer has space. Together we show that we do not agree with a policy that leaves people on the run to sleep outside in wind and rain. Because reception is not a favor, it is a right.
What does it mean to receive reception? Reception is more than a place to sleep: it is a first step towards rest, safety, and stability. Those who do not receive reception lose more than a bed and basic services such as food and healthcare. That person loses the chance to come back to life. Without a safe place, only survival remains, and people are forced to sleep under bridges, in stations, in squats. That means insecurity, health problems and despair. And all this in a city that closes its eyes, in the heart of Europe.
What was once a temporary shortage, our government has allowed to grow into a degrading policy. The situation threatens to worsen this winter. In Brussels, the annual winter plan will be activated on 15 November. But just as temperatures are dropping, the federal government has cut funding for winter reception.
While civil society organizations are at breaking point, the government refuses to invest in structural solutions. That is a political choice. And political choices can change. That is why I now address our government directly with three demands:
- Reception for everyone: everyone must have a roof over their head this winter.
- Restoration of budgets for winter reception: give cities and organizations the means to protect lives. Especially in cities like Brussels and Ghent, local reception must be sufficiently supported.
- Respect for the law: more than 10,000 times already, judges in Belgium have ordered the government to respect the right to reception. Those entitled to it must actually receive it.
Today we symbolically roll out our sleeping bags to show what happens when the government lays down its responsibility. But we refuse to accept that this becomes the new normal. We are here to remind of laws that already exist, of rights that apply to everyone. Law only has meaning if it applies to everyone. And everyone deserves dignified reception.
Thanks to everyone who is here today: citizens, lawyers, field workers, people with a refugee story. You are the proof that solidarity is alive in our country. Together we demand that Belgium leaves no one out in the cold.
Before I hand over the floor, I suggest we wake Brussels up together with our message. Let us chant loud and clear! What do we want? RECEPTION! When? NOW!
Thank you!
Speech by Eva Davidova, spokesperson Amnesty International Flanders and board member Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen
Additional Information
The action on 13 November 2025 at the Palace of Justice in Brussels is the first of a series of actions that civil society will organize this autumn:
- On 14 November, lawyers and magistrates will take action at the Palace of Justice because “Justice is suffocating”.
- On 17 November, Samusocial and Ligue des Familles will launch a campaign: Jamais un enfant dans la rue (“Never a child in the street”).
- On 5 December, on the eve of Saint Nicholas, several volunteers will take action in their municipality with the message: #NoChildrenOnTheStreet.
Civil society partners: collaboration between Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen, Amnesty International, Ciré, BelRefugees and House of Compassion. With the support of organizations such as Doctors of the World and La Ligue.
