Who Gets to Feel Safe? A Sofa Talk on sexual violence, identity and access to justice

On 24 April 2026, the P&V Foundation, in collaboration with RHEA (the Research Centre on Gender, Diversity and Intersectionality at VUB), organised a Sofa Talk entitled “Who Gets to Feel Safe?”. The event brought together nearly 80 participants around a crucial question: who truly has access to safety, recognition and justice when it comes to sexual violence?

Held at the P&V Foundation’s headquarters in Brussels, the discussion created space to address a reality that too often remains invisible: everyday sexist and sexual violence, its normalisation in public spaces, and the obstacles many victims face on their path towards justice and recovery.

For more than an hour, the panellists shared their reflections, experiences and expertise, offering the audience a nuanced perspective on the many dimensions of (in)security experienced by women and people from marginalised groups.

An engaged and inspiring panel

To enrich the discussion, the P&V Foundation and RHEA brought together a panel of committed women whose different backgrounds and experiences converge towards a common goal: building a safer and more just society.

Among them were two recipients of the P&V Foundation Citizenship Award: Maïté Meeûs, founder of the initiative Balance ton Bar, which combats sexist and sexual violence in nightlife settings, and Yasmien Naciri, social entrepreneur and author, committed to promoting equal opportunities and inclusion.

They were joined by Danielle Fernandes, a doctoral researcher at RHEA (VUB), whose work focuses on issues of gender, diversity and intersectionality. The discussion was expertly moderated by Paulien Broens, Research Coordinator at RHEA.

Understanding inequalities in safety

Several key themes emerged throughout the discussion. The speakers highlighted that the feeling of safety is not experienced equally by everyone. Age, gender, ethnic background, sexual orientation and socio-economic circumstances all have a profound impact on how people navigate public spaces and access systems of protection.

The conversation also shed light on the persistent gap between legislative progress and the lived realities of many victims. While significant advances have been made in recent years, numerous barriers remain when it comes to reporting violence, accessing appropriate support and obtaining meaningful recognition.

The panellists also stressed the importance of prevention, education and cultural change in addressing sexual violence in a sustainable way. Beyond judicial responses, they emphasised the need for approaches centred on listening, healing and supporting victims.

A necessary dialogue

Following the panel discussion, audience members had the opportunity to continue the conversation during a question-and-answer session. The many contributions demonstrated not only the strong interest in the topic, but also the need for more spaces dedicated to dialogue about sexual violence and the inequalities it exposes.

Through this Sofa Talk, the P&V Foundation and RHEA sought to contribute to a collective reflection on the conditions needed to build a society in which everyone can feel safe, heard and respected.