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 2013 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 2013 Data

Figures include hate speech and discrimination data.

Download official data

National developments

The Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism and Discrimination (CECLR) carried out a number of activities with Belgian authorities in 2013. In Joint Circular Col 13/2013, the CECLR invited the Minister of Justice and the Minister of the Interior to set up a monitoring system to analyse the statistical data on discrimination and hate crimes and the reliability of police and public prosecutor recording mechanisms.

In addition, the CECLR carried out awareness-raising activities on hate crime with magistrates, prosecutors and the police; developed and released guidance on investigating and prosecuting hate crime; developed a hate crimes checklist for police in partnership with Antwerp police; and carried out trust-building activities in partnership with local complaint bureaus to encourage the reporting of hate crime in five cities.

The ministries of Justice, Equal Opportunities and the Interior launched an Action Plan to address homophobia and transphobia.

KEY OBSERVATION

ODIHR observes that Belgium has not reported on hate crimes separately from cases of hate speech and/or discrimination.

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

Reports

Hate crime against Christians and members of other religions

The Holy See and the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe reported the case of a bias-motivated murder of an elderly woman in a church. Belgian authorities confirmed that the case is under prosecution and that no bias motive had been registered.

Anti-Semitic hate crime

Antisemitisme.be reported six physical assaults and four threats, and mainly targeted Orthodox Jews, as well as an incident of graffiti where a house was covered in swastikas.

Anti-Muslim hate crime

Racism Islamophobia Watch reported one physical assault against a Turkish boy, who was stripped naked and forced to drink beer and eat pork, and three incidents of the desecration of mosques, including one incident where pigs’ heads were left outside.

Anti-LGBTI hate crime

Cavaria reported seven physical assaults, including five assaults resulting in serious injuries, two of which were carried out by group and one in which broken glass was used, leading to the victim being hospitalized. The victims were mainly gay men, but also included three lesbians.

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

World Without Nazism reported a series of attempted arson attacks against the homes of people of Moroccan background.

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Racist and xenophobic hate crime

The three Personal Representatives of the OSCE Chairperson‑in‑Office on tolerance and non‑discrimination made a joint visit to Belgium. Following the visit, the Personal Representatives presented their recommendations for the country, which included enhancing the relationship between law enforcement agencies and Muslim communities, police training on hate crimes and guidance on hate crime monitoring and data collection.

Racist and xenophobic hate crime, Anti-LGBTI hate crime

In its fifth report, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) recommended that the Belgian authorities ensure that the new regulations for collecting data on racist, homophobic and transphobic incidents are applied in practice, and that they designate a contact person responsible for monitoring racist, homophobic and transphobic crimes in each police district.

Anti-Semitic hate crime

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) published findings from a survey on experiences and perceptions of anti-Semitism conducted in Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The survey showed that many respondents have been victims of anti-Semitic violence and harassment, and feared becoming hate crime victims in the future. The survey also mapped the extent of unreported anti-Semitic hate crime. FRA recommended that EU Member States consider taking a number of steps to improve the reporting, recording, investigating and prosecuting of hate crimes.