Belgium | HCRW

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.

SELECT YEAR

Download the 2009 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 2009 Data

Figures refer to crimes with a racist/xenophobic motive and include incitement to hatred crimes and discrimination crimes.

Download official data

KEY OBSERVATION

No information is available.

Incidents reported by civil society, international organizations and the Holy See

Reports

Anti-Semitic hate crime

Antisemtisme.be reported 109 incidents. These include eleven instances of assault, 13 in which threats were made, and 22 involving the desecration of sacred places. The Stephen Roth Institute reported 28 violent incidents.

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

The Centre for Equal Opportunity and Opposition to Racism (CEOOR) acted as a civil party in three lawsuits related to violent hate crimes allegedly motivated by homophobia.

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

In the case of Cakir v. Belgium, involving a Belgian citizen of Turkish origin who brought criminal proceedings against the police for physical and racist verbal abuse by police officers during his arrest and detention, the European Court of Human Rights found that the Belgian authorities had failed to take all reasonable measures to determine whether the police officers had engaged in criminal conduct and whether the alleged criminal conduct had a racist motivation. This case reaffirms states’ duties under the European Convention of Human Rights to actively investigate and prosecute potentially racist crimes when there is a reasonable appearance of bias motivation.

Anti-Semitic hate crime, Anti-Muslim hate crime

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) raised concerns over anti-Semitism and intolerance and discrimination against Muslims in Belgium.