Parallel report for the Universal Periodic Review of Belgium (2025)

The Universal Periodic Review or UPR is a review mechanism at the United Nations level. Every five years, the human rights situation in each country is assessed by all other countries. This evaluation is based, among other things, on information from national human rights institutions and civil society actors. On the basis of the review of Belgium by other countries, recommendations are formulated.

Unia is specifically concerned about the following issues:

• Homophobic hate speech continues to rise and often goes unpunished.
• Discriminatory profiling (ethnic profiling) is still too common in police interventions.
• Internees receive too little appropriate care.
• Many persons with disabilities are denied the right to vote.
• Social benefits remain below the poverty line and limit autonomy.

• Implement an inter-federal plan to combat racism in consultation with civil society as envisaged in the coalition agreement.
• Establish an inter-federal action plan against discrimination and violence against LGBTIQ+ persons in consultation with civil society and organisations combating discrimination.
• Establish a Type A national human rights institution (NMRI) with competence for all of Belgium and all levels of government, complementing existing institutions.
• Monitor the correct application of Circular COL13/2013 by police forces and the prosecutor's office to ensure proper registration of files on discrimination and hate crimes and improve their judicial treatment.
• Extend correctionalisation of press offences to hate speech on gender, age, sexual orientation, philosophical or religious beliefs and disability.
• Take measures to counter discriminatory profiling (ethnic profiling).
• Take immediate structural measures to end the detention of internees in prisons.
• Review Article 3 of the Act of 28 March 2023 on amendments to the electoral system to ensure the right to vote of persons under protection.