What happens with your report to Unia?
If you report discrimination, hate speech or hate crime, you can count on us. We will look for the best way to help you, in complete confidentiality and independence.
Good to know: some situations may feel unfair, but they are not necessarily in violation of anti-discrimination laws.
What steps do we take when you report a discrimination to us?
There are 3 possibilities:
Open When Unia is not competent to handle your report?
Then we can inform you about your rights, give you information tailored to your situation and the legal framework, or refer you to other organisations that can help you.
Open When we are competent and you have requested general information?
We will provide it to you as soon as possible. For example, about anti-discrimination legislation or about topics falling within Unia's mandate.
Open When we are competent and you have requested assistance?
Then we will go through several steps:
- We open a case file and ask you for supporting documents. These can be, for example, e-mails, social media messages, testimonials of witnesses, photos, etc. Were you a victim of violence? Then we advise you to file a complaint with the police. Also keep in mind that a report to Unia in no way replaces a complaint to the police or the public prosecutor's office.
- We will examine your case and see whether we can provide you with assistance. Sometimes only (general) advice is possible. In other, specific cases, we do provide you with legal assistance. In that case there are various courses of action:
- We initially focus on negotiation to arrive at an amicable solution. We strive for recognition of the discrimination or error. We also believe it is important to arrive at an apology, compensation or another form of recovery and/or to negotiate structural measures.
- We may also take other actions: sending a warning or reminder to the people against whom the report is directed, giving official advice on the application of anti-discrimination legislation, etc.
- In a minority of cases we go to court. We only do this under the following conditions: if you consent to do this, if the case is legally solid and if the facts are very serious or the case is important to society in general.
What happens when you report hate speech to us?
We investigate your report of (online) hate speech. In that case there are the following options:
- When you are not an individual victim and/or is it not criminal hate speech?
- Then, unfortunately, handling the report individually will not be effective. In that case, you will receive a standard answer that refers you to other bodies such as the Council for Journalism , the Flemish Regulator for the Media, etc …
- When you are an individual victim of online hate speech?
- Then we will try to ensure that the offending messages are removed. This way, authors get the signal that their statements are not allowed and the hate speech cannot be spread further. Do we notice that someone repeatedly posts hate speech, does not respond to a proposal for dialogue or knowingly breaks the law? If so, we may suggest to you to bring your case to court.
What happens when you report hate crime to us?
In the event of a hate crime, we naturally respect the ongoing investigation or judicial investigation. We will continue to try to inform and provide guidance to you and your family as best we can.
We can also become a civil party to the lawsuit together with you. In that case, we make sure that the discriminatory or racist motive is included in the investigation. As a result, penalties are often harsher. We also ensure that specific attention is paid to the circumstances before and during the crime: the offender's own statements, the nature of the act, elements from the offender's past, etc.
Report discrimination
Do you feel you have experienced or witnessed discrimination? Report it online or call the toll-free number 0800 12 800 on weekdays between 9.30 a.m. and 1 p.m.