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Belgium

Belgium regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. Recent initiatives to improve hate crime identification, recording and data collection have been implemented through ODIHR's Information Against Hate Crimes Toolkit (INFAHCT) programme. In particular, Belgium has implemented the programme's recommendations on the operational practice of police, prosecutors, and equality bodies.

Crime victimization surveys and research are frequently conducted in Belgium. "Safe.brussels", the Brussels public service responsible for crime prevention and security within the Brussels-Capital Region, conducts surveys on the perception of security and crime victimization among the general public every two years.      

Hate crime data collection in Belgium
Support for hate crime victims in Belgium
Hate crime capacity building in Belgium
Belgium's hate crime legislation
 
TANDIS Access more information at the Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Information System (TANDIS) website

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Download the 2023 hate crime report for Belgium

OFFICIAL DATA REPORTED BY STATES

Year Hate crimes recorded by police Prosecuted Sentenced
2023 1,839 1,222 Not available
2022 1,682 1,263 Not available
2021 1,591 1,357 Not available
2020 1750 1334 80
2019 1568 1371 103
2018 1446 1006 72
2017 875 60 56
2016 845 70 59
2015 881 69 56
2014 1064 76 61
2013 375 822 45
2012 615 893 66
2011 1152 865 75
2010 815 860 Not available
2009 1198 974 Not available

About 2023 Data

    The above numbers also include other types of crimes, such as discrimination and hate speech, which fall outside the OSCE definition of hate crime but could not be separated from the total number. Some cases may have been registered several times by the police, such as when there was more than one victim, whereas the prosecution registers such cases only once. Data on prosecuted cases contain all cases that were sent to the public prosecutor's office.
    Data on conviction statistics, including for hate crime cases, are not available until further notice.

Hate crime recorded by police

The police figures below include incidents of discrimination and hate speech, which fall outside the OSCE definition of hate crime but could not be separated from the total number

  • By bias motivation
  • By type of crime
Download official data
Download official data

National developments

In 2023, a working group (COL 13) worked to revise the joint circular for police forces and public prosecutors on the investigation and prosecution policy of discrimination and hate crimes in 2023. The aim of this revision was to improve the recording of hate crimes by the police, the public prosecutor's office and the justice system in general.

In 2023, the Brussels-Capital Region, Wallonia and the French Community launched a joint call for civil society projects to combat cyberhate linked to racism and xenophobia. The projects were required to focus on at least one of the following areas: prevention, training, awareness-raising or education in the fight against cyberhate, and/or support for victims of cyberhate.

In 2023, the equality body Unia published its annual report, including an analysis of hate crime data collected in 2022. It revealed that hate crimes motivated by perceived racial characteristics are the most numerous, followed by crimes motivated by bias against sexual orientation and philosophical or religious conviction. The Unia report also identified the main contexts in which hate crimes occur, with 'life in society', employment and education in the top three. The most frequent types of offences identified by Unia were intimidation and harassment, assault and battery, and criminal harassment.

In March 2023, a study titled "Genoeg.Assez.Enough" was published on experiences of violence against LGBTQIA+ people. The study investigated the extent to which the target group came into contact with violence in the two years preceding the study.

Unia also published reports on discrimination against people of African descent and anti-Semitism in Belgium in 2022 and 2024.

Notable cases:

There were several notable hate crime cases that received court rulings in 2023:
1.    An elderly Togolese man was severely beaten and subjected to racist and xenophobic insults while waiting for the bus. The victim was severely affected both physically and psychologically by the attack. The case was prosecuted with hate motivation as an aggravating circumstance. The perpetrator was sentenced to two years imprisonment and a fine. 
2.    Three men punched a man on the street. A few months later, the same perpetrators punched three Iraqi men as they left a café. In both attacks, the victims were subjected to racist and xenophobic insults, based on their perceived nationality and ethnicity. The court ruled that the hate motivation was established against two defendants but not against the third. The court noted that the fact that one of the accused was of Moroccan origin had no bearing. The defendants were sentenced to imprisonment and received fines. 

KEY OBSERVATION

ODIHR recognizes Belgium's efforts to update the existing policy and operational framework (Circular No. COL 13/2013) to enhance hate crime data recording and effectiveness of investigation and prosecution of hate crime. Based on the available information, ODIHR observes that Belgium's hate crime recording and statistics do not sufficiently distinguish hate crimes from other crimes. In addition, ODIHR observes that Belgium would benefit from ensuring that hate crimes are addressed in a comprehensive manner, including by introducing a co-ordination mechanism.

ODIHR recalls that in Ministerial Council Decision 9/09, OSCE participating States agreed to a common definition of hate crime and committed to collecting reliable data and statistics on such crimes. To that end, hate crimes need to be distinguished throughout the recording and data collection process from crimes of discrimination. 

In Ministerial Council Decisions 9/09 and 13/06, OSCE participating States committed to ensure a comprehensive approach to hate crimes. To that end, the authorities and civil society need to collaborate and co-ordinate. ODIHR stands ready to support Belgium in meeting the relevant commitments through its comprehensive resources and tailored assistance.


Our methodology

INCIDENTS REPORTED BY CIVIL SOCIETY

  • Total Incidents
  • Targeted properties
  • Type of property attacks

🛈 Please note that the total number of incidents may be lower than the sum of incidents presented in the breakdown chart above, as some incidents involve multiple bias motivations.

🛈 ODIHR no longer presents descriptions of property attacks in the incident tables below. Data on property attacks are presented in the breakdown charts above. One property attack may target multiple properties or involve multiple types of attack.

🛈 Please note that the total number of incidents may be lower than the sum of incidents presented in the breakdown chart above, as some incidents involve multiple bias motivations.

🛈 ODIHR no longer presents descriptions of property attacks in the incident tables below. Data on property attacks are presented in the breakdown charts above. One property attack may target multiple properties or involve multiple types of attack.

🛈 Please note that the total number of incidents may be lower than the sum of incidents presented in the breakdown chart above, as some incidents involve multiple bias motivations.

🛈 ODIHR no longer presents descriptions of property attacks in the incident tables below. Data on property attacks are presented in the breakdown charts above. One property attack may target multiple properties or involve multiple types of attack.

Anti-Semitic hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2023-02 Threats/Harassment
Safer and Stronger Communities in Europe
Show info

Anti-Muslim hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2023-06 Violent attacks against people
The Collective for Countering Islamophobia in Europe
Show info
2023 Threats/Harassment
The Collective for Countering Islamophobia in Europe
Show info
2023 Threats/Harassment
The Collective for Countering Islamophobia in Europe
Show info
2023-02 Violent attacks against people
The Collective for Countering Islamophobia in Europe
Show info
2023-03 Violent attacks against people
The Collective for Countering Islamophobia in Europe
Show info
2023-04 Violent attacks against people
The Collective for Countering Islamophobia in Europe
Show info
2023-04 Violent attacks against people
The Collective for Countering Islamophobia in Europe
Show info
2023-05 Threats/Harassment
The Collective for Countering Islamophobia in Europe
Show info
2023-05 Violent attacks against people
The Collective for Countering Islamophobia in Europe
Show info
2023-05 Threats/Harassment
The Collective for Countering Islamophobia in Europe
Show info
2023-07 Violent attacks against people
The Collective for Countering Islamophobia in Europe
Show info
2023-07 Violent attacks against people
The Collective for Countering Islamophobia in Europe
Show info

Anti-Christian hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2023-03 Violent attacks against people
Jehovah's Witnesses
Show info
2023-06 Violent attacks against people
Jehovah's Witnesses
Show info
2023-07 Violent attacks against people
Jehovah's Witnesses
Show info

Disability hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2023-07 Violent attacks against people
The Collective for Countering Islamophobia in Europe
Show info

Gender-based hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2023-01 Violent attacks against people
Transgender Europe (TGEU)
Show info
2023-07 Violent attacks against people
The Collective for Countering Islamophobia in Europe
Show info

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

Date Type of incident Source Description
2023-01 Violent attacks against people
Transgender Europe (TGEU)
Show info

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

No information is available.

Contact Us

Email tndinfo@odihr.pl
Tel +48 22 520 06 00
Fax +48 22 520 06 05
OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)
Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Department
Ul. Miodowa 10
00-251
Warsaw, Poland

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