A giant named Sabine was unveiled on Saturday afternoon at Béguinage Square in Brussels, embodying the fight for the rights of undocumented migrants and the opposition to closed migrant centres.
Sabine was revealed during the Dignity Festival, hosted by the non-profit organisation House of Compassion, and she is inspired by Sabine Amiyeme, an undocumented hairdresser in Belgium who narrowly avoided deportation to Cameroon after fleeing life-threatening circumstances.
“This giant will be her voice and that of thousands of others,” hopes Father Daniel Alliët, one of the founders of House of Compassion. The organisation, based in the Saint John the Baptist at the Béguinage church, champions migration issues and serves as a refuge and advocacy space for undocumented migrants, challenging repressive migration policies through cultural actions and symbolic gestures.
“Sabine will join processions and participate in protests and awareness campaigns,” explains Geneviève Frère, the coordinator of the site, highlighting her message: “Dignity has no papers.”
The Dignity Day event brought together individuals committed to creating a fairer world, focusing on migration, poverty reduction, ecology, and equal opportunities, Geneviève Frère adds.
Additionally, the event celebrated concrete activism, awarding the inaugural Dignity Prize to Nezha Alouah, a dedicated campaigner for migrant rights, recognised for her fieldwork and commitment.
