A/HRC/48/8
Introduction
1.
The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with
Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-eighth session from 3 to 14 May 2021.
The review of Belgium was held at the 5th meeting, on 5 May 2021. The delegation of
Belgium was headed by Vice-Première Ministre et Ministre des affaires étrangères, des
affaires européennes et du commerce extérieur, et des institutions culturelles fédérales,
Sophie Wilmès. At its 10th meeting, held on 7 May 2021, the Working Group adopted the
report on Belgium.
2.
On 12 January 2021, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of
rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Belgium: Austria, Indonesia and Togo.
3.
In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution
5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were
issued for the review of Belgium:
(a)
A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with
paragraph 15 (a);1
(b)
A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b);2
(c)
A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c).3
4.
A list of questions prepared in advance by Austria, Canada, Germany, Haiti, Iran
(Islamic Republic of), Panama, Portugal, on behalf of the Group of Friends on national
mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up, the Republic of Moldova, Spain
and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Belgium
through the troika. These questions are available on the website of the universal periodic
review.
I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process
A.
Presentation by the State under review
5.
In her introductory statement, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign
Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade, and Federal Cultural Institutions stated that the
universality of human rights was an essential pillar of the effective multilateralism that
Belgium advocated, and that the universal periodic review was an important peer review
exercise that helped to protect and strengthen the implementation of human rights in Belgium.
6.
Since Belgium was a federal State, the protection of human rights was ensured by
authorities at several different levels. The national report was therefore the result of close
cooperation between the various constituent parts of Belgium, namely the federal
Government, the Communities and the Regions. This institutional framework entailed
responsibilities at different levels of government and shared responsibility in certain areas.
7.
Human rights were effectively protected in Belgium by both the legislation in force
and the rigorous application of that legislation. Belgium was among the small group of
countries that were up to date with their periodic reporting to the United Nations treaty
bodies. As of 2016, Belgium had ratified seven conventions and one protocol of the
International Labour Organization, as well as the Council of Europe Convention on
Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul
Convention). Crime policy had been strengthened and three support centres for victims of
sexual violence had been established in 2017 and 2020. The federated entities had also
increased their capacities in that regard.
1
2
3
2
A/HRC/WG.6/38/BEL/1.
A/HRC/WG.6/38/BEL/2.
A/HRC/WG.6/38/BEL/3.
GE.21-09330