Research at Unia
Through our research, we aim to gain a better understanding of the state of (in)equality and discrimination in Belgium and the existing mechanisms of exclusion and polarisation.
Thanks to the data collected on equality and the recommendations resulting from our analyses, Unia works in the interest of the people who are discriminated against and society as a whole.
Importance of research
Legal tools are crucial in the fight against discrimination and for equality, but they are not enough. Additional efforts are needed to:
- to monitor and evaluate policy measures
- to identify and analyse discrimination mechanisms in different areas of social life
- to monitor violations against anti-discrimination legislation
- to launch information and awareness-raising campaigns
- etc.
All these actions and measures have a common denominator: scientific knowledge. Information from (demographic) statistics and scientific research is a primary means of making underlying and often invisible discrimination processes visible.
Research results enable us to tackle discrimination more effectively and in a more targeted way because they give us a solid foundation.
We aim to lead with our research thanks to:
- figures that provide a detailed picture of cases
- proprietary statistical tools, because to measure is to know
- data on equality in the data hub
- research in areas where knowledge is lacking
Research areas
Unia is a centre of knowledge and expertise. The research we carry out concerns the discrimination criteria for which our institution is competent.
Unia has developed two databases that list its studies and data on discrimination in Belgium:
The database of resources and advice
Here you will find studies, reports and recommendations published by Unia on discrimination, equality and inclusion.
The equality database
Unia has developed a database of all sources of data on equality in Belgium. This is both quantitative and qualitative data that can be useful for describing and analysing equality or inequality.
Our Equality Data Hub lists data on four categories of discrimination criteria:
- so-called ‘racial’ criteria
- religious or philosophical beliefs
- sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sexual characteristics
- disability, state of health and physical characteristics.
Current research
The Equality Data project
This is a research project on data sources relating to inequality and discrimination. Its aim is to improve the collection and development of data on equality in Belgium. The result is the Equality Data Hub, a database of data on discrimination and inequality in Belgium.
1st phase of the project (2020-2021):
In its 1st report ‘Improving equality data collection in Belgium (IEDCB)’, Unia reveals a number of gaps in Belgian equality data. There are few reliable figures on access to healthcare on the basis of so-called ‘racial’ criteria. And there is still too little data on sexual orientation or religious or philosophical beliefs. Unia carried out this 1st phase of the project in partnership with the Equal Opportunities Service (SPF Justice).
2nd phase of the project (2023-2024):
The first objective of the second phase of the project was to extend the data mapping to the following criteria: disability, physical characteristics and state of health. This part of the research led to the observation that there is a lack of data on discrimination based on physical characteristics in Belgium.
A second objective was to consider the usefulness of allowing people to self-define their origin when collecting data. The results showed that the process of self-definition is often appropriate but must be subject to strict conditions, as detailed in the report.
- Consult the report on the second phase (2024)
- Find out more about research into self-definition of origin in Belgium
The study on the application of municipal administrative sanctions (SAC/GAS sanctions)
The INESAC project (for INEgalité and SAC for Sanctions Administratives Communales) aims to analyse the influence of SACs on inequalitiy. With this study, Unia aims to ascertain whether and how SACs disproportionately affect people in vulnerable situations. The research began in December 2023 and will be carried out by the Institut de Gestion de l'Environnement et d'Aménagement du Territoire (IGEAT) of the Université Libre de Bruxelles. The results are expected in May 2025.
Coming soon
Following initial data collection by Indiville, Unia will shortly be launching a research project on racism in healthcare.
What are the aims of this research?
- To compensate for the lack of data on racial inequalities and discrimination in healthcare
- To support the healthcare sector and political decision-makers in implementing evidence-based policy in the field of combating racial discrimination and inequalities in the healthcare sector.
- To formulate recommendations for combating racial discrimination in healthcare.