You can register by sending an email to Utsopi: sophie@utsopi.be
Workshop in ‘English adapted for non-native speakers’ – possibility to speak Dutch or French yourself.
What is queer feminist self-defence?
Feros self-defence workshops teach you techniques to protect yourself. This includes mental, verbal, emotional and physical techniques. We also work on the connection between body and mind to better manage stress and difficult situations, such as violence.
Our workshops vary depending on the facilitators, as their facilitation style, preferences and backgrounds influence the structure and content of the workshops. All of our trainers follow the tradition of feminist self-defence (such as Wen Do).
In this workshop, we will support you to:
- connect individual experiences of violence to systemic power relations
- build self-confidence and a sense of security
- develop physical and emotional awareness
- cultivate stress management and resilience strategies
- learn psychological, verbal and physical self-defence techniques
For who is this workshop?
This workshop is aimed at sex workers, regardless of their gender, background, status or experience. It is designed as a space that takes into account the specific realities of sex work and the violence, discrimination and stigmatisation that can be associated with it.
We do not believe in ‘safe’ spaces and instead favour the notion of responsibility. We are aware that situations of violence can also occur within queer feminist spaces. Our intention is to create a space where we can collectively express solidarity, respect, understanding and kindness, and also have the space to express what is wrong, in order to address and resolve issues in a constructive manner.
Practical information
The first workshop will take place on Tuesday 14 April from 18h30 to 21h30 (doors open 18h) in the offices of Utsopi, next to Brussels north station. The second session will take place on Thursday, 20 August from 17h30 to 20h30 (Doors open at 17h) in de Kleine Sikkel in Ghent (Nederpolder 2). The third session will take place in Antwerp in November/December. It is possible to attend 1, 2 or all 3 sessions, each session will be a bit different.
The workshop will be given in English, but it will also be possible to express yourself in Dutch or French. We hope that by giving the workshop in English rather than Dutch it can be open to sex workers with a migration background who do not speak Dutch or French. The workshop is free.
Both trainers speak English as their second language. It will be possible to speak Dutch/French in small group exercises and short translation to Dutch/French can be offered. Unfortunately we are not able to guarantee translation to other languages than Dutch or French, but do reach out if language is a barrier and we can try to find a solution together.
Training style and trainers
Our workshops are based in experiential learning. This means that we learn by doing. We use an approach that does not create hierarchies. We are feminists and take into account all differences between people. Our goal is to create group cultures that focus on care and inclusivity.
This session will be facilitated by murmure (she) and sofie (she). They bring a varied experience in self-defence methods, including martial arts, bodywork and collective care practices. Both facilitators are white and hold a Belgian passport. They have different experiences regarding gender, sexuality, neuro-diversity, (mental) health, education, income, family wealth and living situation. The two facilitators have different sex work experience ranging from none to a little temporarily.
Feros and Utsopi?
Feros is a collective of facilitators. We organise activities around collective care, inclusivity and queer feminist self-defence.
UTSOPI is a Belgian organisation that defends the rights of sex workers, run by and for those concerned. It fights against stigmatisation and violence, and carries out political and social advocacy work. UTSOPI also creates spaces for support, information and self-organisation for sex workers.
In 2025 Feros and Utsopi organised a first self-defence workshop for sex workers together, in French. During this first workshop, we worked together to understand what you need in terms of self-defence in your work context. We will work together to decide on the format, content and objectives of these workshops. Because this workshop and the collaboration went well we decided to organise 2 series of 3 workshops in 2026, one series in English for non-native speakers and one series in French.
Accessibility
The venue is wheelchair accessible. A quiet area is available for those who wish to be alone. Noise-cancelling headphones are available. Wide chairs without armrests are provided for larger people.
We alternate seated and standing exercises, but you are welcome to stay seated, stand up, or leave the room at any time. This workshop is open to everyone, regardless of physical condition, however some exercises are not fully accessible to people with reduced mobility. Please contact us in advance at training@feros.be if you need adaptations to the program.
Transport accessibility: the closest train station is Gent-Dampoort, from there it is an 18min walk to the venue. From Dampoort it is possible to take the bus (5a, 5b, 6) for part of the way. No car parking available but you can park in the surrounding streets.