Belgium provides a strong constitutional and legal framework for the protection of freedom of expression and the safety of journalists.

Legal and Constitutional Protections

The Belgian Constitution safeguards press freedom and freedom of expression through several key provisions — Articles 19, 25, 32, and 150 — which collectively ensure the right to free communication, public access to information, and freedom of the press.

At the federal level, the Law on the Protection of Journalistic Sources offers robust safeguards against attempts to compel journalists to reveal their sources. It also restricts judicial authorities from taking investigative measures that could indirectly circumvent this protection.

A recent legislative advancement further strengthens journalists’ protection: journalists have been added to the list of persons exercising a societal function in the Criminal Code (Articles 79 and 111 of the forthcoming Penal Code reform). This change means that acts of violence committed against journalists will be subject to more severe penalties, underscoring the public interest in ensuring their safety.

European and Institutional Developments:
On 11 April 2024, the European Parliament adopted a new directive to protect journalists, media professionals, researchers, artists, and human rights defenders from abusive legal proceedings (SLAPPs – Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation). The directive entered into force on 6 May 2024, and Belgium has until 7 May 2026 to transpose it into national law.

In parallel, on 15 December 2022, the Federal Institute for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights (IFDH) was officially designated as Belgium’s national contact point on SLAPPs to the European Commission, reinforcing the country’s institutional capacity to prevent and respond to judicial harassment targeting journalists.

2025 update

Belgium continued to strengthen its multi-level approach to the safety of journalists through coordinated action by federal authorities, communities, journalists’ associations and media stakeholders. Following its inaugural meeting on 9 January 2025, the Belgian focal point group for the Journalists Matter campaign ensured the timely coordination of Belgian responses to alerts published on the Council of Europe Platform for the Safety of Journalists.

Particular attention was given to gender-related threats affecting journalists. Belgium continued supporting international efforts to address technology-facilitated gender-based violence, including through contributions to the study being prepared by the Advisory Committee of the United Nations Human Rights Council following Resolution 56/19. The Belgian contribution specifically identified women journalists as a group disproportionately affected by technology-facilitated gender-based violence and highlighted its chilling effect on freedom of expression and its impact on the right to work.

Belgium also continued preparations for the transposition of the European Union Anti-SLAPP Directive throughout 2025. As part of these efforts, the Federal Institute for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights participated in the Council of Europe’s Training of Trainers on SLAPPs organised under the Journalists Matter campaign in Prague in October 2025.

The country further strengthened support structures for journalism and media freedom. The Flemish Community continued supporting the Flemish Association of Journalists (VVJ) through a four-year funding agreement and renewed its cooperation with the Pascal Decroos Fund, which promotes independent investigative journalism through grants and support schemes. In 2025, the Flemish Government also concluded a new management agreement with the public service broadcaster VRT, reaffirming its role as a reference for independent, reliable and pluralistic journalism. At the same time, the French Community maintained a range of support mechanisms for journalism, including funding for investigative journalism, self-regulation, professional training, diversity initiatives and measures addressing online violence against journalists.

With the entry into force of most provisions of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) on 8 August 2025, Belgium’s Communities initiated the necessary follow-up procedures, including work relating to the independence of public service media and the assessment of media concentrations.