Human Rights Day 2025: Film Screening and Discussion on Gender-Based Violence

On 10 December 2025, the Embassy of Luxembourg marked International Human Rights Day with a special event at the French Cultural Institute, featuring the screening of Breathing Underwater (Hors d’haleine). The film offers a powerful and empathetic portrayal of women’s resilience in the face of domestic abuse, shedding light on the lived realities of survivors and the complex dynamics of gender-based violence.

Breathing Underwater is the debut feature of director Eric Lamhène. Since its premiere last year, the film has received significant international recognition, including the Cineuropa Award and the Special Jury Prize at the Lecce European Film Festival. It was also awarded Best Film at the 11th edition of the Lëtzebuerger Filmprais and has been selected as Luxembourg’s official entry for Best International Feature at the Academy Awards next year.

The screening was preceded by a thought-provoking discussion with director Eric Lamhène and prominent women’s rights activists Ninette Umurerwa and Chantal Umuhoza. The exchange explored the motivations for screening such a sensitive story at this moment, from a Luxembourgish perspective, and examined the need to understand gender-based violence beyond physical abuse alone. Key themes included the often-overlooked burden of unpaid care work, the limitations of criminalisation as a standalone response, and the importance of fully integrating survivor-centred approaches into prevention and response strategies.

Throughout the event, the Embassy of Luxembourg reaffirmed its commitment to promoting human rights, gender equality, and informed dialogue on pressing global challenges.