The SEA-EU office at the University of Brest (UBO) organized a series of engaging events throughout November 2025 to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (November 25th), combining awareness-raising with cultural discovery.
These events also provided excellent opportunities to raise awareness among students about the SEA-EU Alliance and its values.
Read, Learn, Take Action: Feminist Books Giveaway
On November 20th, 2025, the SEA-EU team in UBO organized a major book giveaway across its Brest and Quimper campuses, aiming to raise awareness on gender equality and women’s rights.
- The Initiative: More than 200 free books were distributed among over 50 different titles. These books were either written by European women authors or focused on gender equality and action against violence.
- A Call for Equality: This action highlighted the continued importance of equality in higher education, noting that while women are the majority of students in Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, they represent less than 30% of lecturers and only 18% of university presidents in Europe.
- Partnerships: The giveaway was conducted in collaboration with the UBO’s libraries, the university unit dedicated to combating gender-based and sexual violence, and the French association Nous Toutes, allowing students to gain awareness and ask questions about these crucial topics.
- Sustained Impact: The complete list of suggested books was shared on UBO’s social networks, encouraging students to continue their reading and reflection beyond the event.
Cine SEA-EU: A Cycle of European Films Focusing on Gender Equality
Throughout November, the SEA-EU office invited students to celebrate European cultural diversity and immerse themselves in the theme of gender equality through cinema.
Every Tuesday of November (4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th), the Cine SEA-EU cycle screened a free film from one of the nine SEA-EU alliance countries at the local cinema, Les Studios. This initiative not only offered free admission to make culture more inclusive but also encouraged students to open up to European languages, as all films were shown in their original version.
The screenings included:
- November 4th: “C’è ancora domani” (Italy), directed by Paola Cortellesi.
- November 11th: “20,000 Especies de abejas” (Spain), directed by Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren.
- November 18th: “Köln 75” (Germany), directed by Ido Fluk.
- November 25th: “Ninjababy” (Norway), directed by Yngvild Sve Flikke.
These actions demonstrate SEA-EU’s commitment to fostering a collaborative, diverse, and egalitarian environment within its partner universities.
