Bill approved ensuring siblings can no longer be separated

The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill that enshrines the right of siblings not to be separated in the event, for example, of divorce of their parents or the placement of the children in foster care or institutions.

"Minor siblings will have the right not to be separated in the event of placement but also to maintain contacts," stressed MP Sophie Rohonyi of the DeFI party; one of the authors of the bill.

The vote was welcomed by the delegate general for the rights of the child, Bernard De Vos. "This is great news and really significant progress in the best interests of children," his spokesman said, adding that De Vos had been recommending the measure for a long time.