Empowering Voices, Influencing Change, and Shaping a Better Future

Advocating for Refugee Rights & Dignity

Located in the heart of Europe, SB OverSeas leverages its position to raise awareness about refugee crises. Our mission is to amplify refugee voices and bridge gaps by collaborating with partners at national and international levels to advocate for young asylum seekers in Belgium and Lebanon.

SBO advocates for the fundamental rights and dignity of refugee communities in Europe and the Middle East. In Lebanon, we have led advocacy campaigns against early marriage since 2013, launching initiatives like a monthly newsletter (2017), the “Child Marriage Comics Series” (2018), and the “Refugee Journal” (2019). In Brussels, we have been actively advocating for asylum seekers’ rights, integration, and inclusion since 2013 through reports, newsletters, surveys, and events.

Our goal is to build connections among stakeholders in migration to maximize impact. We collaborate with advocacy platforms at Belgian, European, and international levels, including CNCD, PICUM, ECRE, IOM Migration, and Plate-forme Mineurs en Exil. Additionally, our “Sharing Hope and Building Bridges” project fosters direct engagement between advocacy platforms and young asylum seekers. As one of the few organizations in Brussels working both directly with young refugees and in advocacy, SBO holds a unique and impactful position.

Notre mission

Advocacy efforts for refugees must urgently address the intersecting challenges of early marriage and forced migration, which profoundly impact displaced populations. Early marriage, often perpetuated by economic strain, cultural pressures, or a misguided sense of protection in unstable environments, denies young girls education, autonomy, and safety, while refugee migration exposes individuals to perilous journeys, exploitation, and systemic neglect in host communities. Tackling these issues demands comprehensive strategies, including community-based education to shift harmful norms, legal frameworks to ensure safe migration pathways, and international collaboration to address root causes like conflict, inequality, and inadequate protections for displaced populations.

Vision

A community committed to eradicating early marriage upholds every child’s right to self-determination, ensuring they grow free from coercion and empowered to pursue education, safety, and autonomy over their life choices.

A community rooted in acceptance actively embraces differences, offering compassion and practical support to those in need, fostering unity through empathy, inclusivity, and a shared dedication to lifting others toward dignity and belonging.