Government prioritises Belgian human rights institute

The federal government is ready with plans to create a human rights institute, justice minister Koen Geens has said. The move comes after Belgium was criticised by the human rights committee of the United Nations in January.

The country does have various organisations concerned with aspects of human rights, such as privacy, gender equality and racial discrimination. But not all aspects are dealt with, including human rights in prisons. According to Amnesty International, there is insufficient monitoring of the measures taken in the fight against terrorism.

The latest call for an urgent response came from Flemish comedian Geert Hoste (pictured), an ambassador for Amnesty International. In a recent op-ed piece published in De Standaard, he cited support for the institute from both prime minister Charles Michel and Flemish minister-president Geert Bourgeois.

The decision by UN member states on the importance of a human rights institute was first taken in 1993, he wrote, and there are now 69 institutes worldwide, including 22 in Europe. “The matter is on the fast track,” Geens said. “The protection of human rights is a priority for this government, which is why the government partners are all working on the creation of the institute.”

Photo courtesy geerthoste.be