Following our mobilisation on the 08 March, we received the visit of Dr Monika Triest in our bi-weekly meetings. Beyond an extensive experience on the last 50 years as a feminist academic and civil rights activist, Monika has also participated in the first Tribunal on Crimes Against Women in 1976.

After attending the 2026WOMEN ‘Simawe | See My Way’ performance in November 2024, she was enthusiastic about supporting our project and sharing her knowledge and experience! She aims to join us once again for the second edition of the Tribunal in 2026 (more info here), driven by her continuous activism towards gender justice.

Meanwhile, Monika is working on a project called ‘De Vergeten Vrowen: Straatnamen in Antwerpen’. The feminist scholar-activist will propose the acknowledgement of historical women from Antwerp who have made a contribution the the sciences and art, and whose names and stories are forgotten. The project will be submitted to the city council on May 14th.

We, the 2026WOMEN Collective, support her submission and all the community is invited to join us!

Text: Maria Teresa Bizarria

I’m the musical instrument of your resonance.

In my mirror, I’m powerful, magical.

Do you see me as soft, fragile, and emotional?

I don’t train for beauty or belly.

All choices are mine.

I blossom, I bloom even when I’m tiny.

I carry difficulties in my soul.

Ssssssht… Let’s shush stereotypes.

You are the cause of my mood swings.

Your affection for conception

Keeps my sensuality at bay.

You try to restrain me,

While my chosen femininity is the only way.

I’m her naked body,

And you don’t have a say.

©2026WOMEN Collective

This poem was made during the first writing atelier in February 2024. It has been used to improvise on music. “Her Body” is, now, also a song.