Narratives of Justice : Art and Activism in Palestine, Lebanon and Syria

Syria, Lebanon and Palestine are entering the year 2025 with a deluge of specific challenges: between the ongoing massacre in Palestine, a ceasefire in Lebanon and an unprecedented 13-year long-awaited hope in Syria, accompanied by caution, we ask: How can Brussels respond to all this?

“At a time when media reports are often unable to capture complex realities, cultural practitioners and civil activists are exploring new ways to document the truth and imagine justice, helping us to understand the intersections between our realities in Europe and the Arab region, which are full of hope and pain. This conference, taking place at a crucial time, brings together artists, civil society actors and media professionals from the Arab region and Europe to reflect on how the stories of Syria, Palestine and Lebanon are told, preserved and shared.

At the intersection of artistic expression and transitional justice, these practitioners explore how civil society initiatives can be platforms for unheard voices and how they can stand in solidarity with other voices in Europe for people’s right to justice and change.

Four leading speakers working in the fields of art, independent journalism and transitional justice will share their experiences of the tension between artistic freedom and political urgency. The discussion will look at pioneering approaches in cultural work that promote justice narratives and explore how artistic practices can challenge dominant media narratives while contributing to broader processes of accountability. Speakers will address how cultural initiatives can create spaces for open dialogue and genuine solidarity.

This discussion offers a unique opportunity to engage with innovative questions of artistic practice and civic responsibility in times of crisis and democratic change.