The European Commission on racism and intolerance (ECRI), part of the 46-member Council of Europe, has recommended that the Belgian authorities include suitable, practical and targeted training on hate speech and hate crime in the initial and on-going training of police officers as a matter of priority.
In its newly published monitoring report on Belgium ECRI’s second priority recommendation is that steps should be taken towards legislation specifically protecting the right of intersex persons to physical integrity.
Progress in several areas, including schools and healthcare
Today’s report underlines that Belgium has made progress and developed good practices in a number of fields since 2019. These include better data collection on hate speech and hate crime by the police and prosecution authorities, as well as initiatives to tackle online hate speech and hate crime.
ECRI also notes that human rights, equality and media education are included in school curricula in Belgium and a number of measures have been taken to prevent and combat bullying.
Furthermore, the Belgian authorities have supported the establishment of the first healthcare centre specialised in providing care to LGBTI people. Many initiatives have also been taken at different levels to provide interpretation and intercultural mediation in healthcare.
In addition, evaluations of anti-discrimination laws at different levels have led to legislative changes and the adoption of the Brussels Equality Code.
Hate speech, hate crime and ongoing discrimination a source of concern
Despite the progress achieved, however, ECRI states that some issues give rise to concern.
The findings showed an increase in hate speech and stigmatising language, in particular online and in politics, the media and football. Violent attacks and incidents of vandalism have also been reported, targeting several groups of concern to ECRI.
The report notes that underreporting of hate speech and hate crime remains a key issue in Belgium, and that police officers are not sufficiently aware of the need to prevent and combat hate speech and hate crime.
In addition, children with a migration background continue to face multiple challenges, including lower educational outcomes than their peers, and many of them attend schools where they constitute a majority or a disproportionately high proportion of pupils.
Patients with a migration background, as well as other patients linked with groups of concern to ECRI, are also still reported to meet discriminatory or inappropriate treatment by healthcare professionals.
Furthermore, ECRI underlines that there is still no suitable legal framework banning medically unnecessary surgery and other treatments on intersex children before they are able to give their free and informed consent.
Today’s report makes a series of recommendations to the Belgian authorities. ECRI’s two priority recommendations should be implemented within 18 months and will be the subject of a follow-up process.
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The European Commission against racism and intolerance (ECRI) is a unique Council of Europe human rights monitoring body made up of independent experts that monitors member states’ action against racism, intolerance and discrimination on grounds of “race”, colour, language, religion, citizenship, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics in Europe; it prepares reports and issues recommendations to member states.
