Belgium Guilty of Crimes Against Humanity in Colonial Kidnapping Case

Belgium Found Guilty of Crimes Against Humanity in Historic Court Ruling

A historic court ruling in Belgium has found the country guilty of crimes against humanity during its colonial rule of central Africa. This decision could pave the way for compensation and other forms of justice for victims.

The court ruled that the "systematic kidnapping" of mixed-race children from their African mothers in Belgian-ruled Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi constituted a crime against humanity. Five women who were forcibly separated from their mothers as young children between 1948 and 1953 were awarded €50,000 each in damages.

This colonial-era policy affected thousands of métis children, deemed a threat to the white supremacist order. Many lost contact with their mothers after being moved to uncaring institutions.

The president of the Association of Métis of Belgium believes the ruling opens the door for financial compensation for those separated from their parents. He himself was forcibly moved to Belgium and stripped of his nationality.

The lawyer who represented the five women believes the ruling could lead to reparations, but warns that a fight will be necessary.

In 2019, the Belgian Prime Minister apologized for the kidnapping of mixed-race children. However, Belgium has resisted demands for financial compensation.

The court judgment could be a turning point for victims in the Great Lakes region seeking justice. They could use the ruling to obtain reparations from the Belgian government.

The group also seeks greater recognition for the mothers forced to give up their children. These women often faced significant challenges and some died without ever being reunited with their children.

Victims in the Great Lakes region face obstacles in researching their past, such as difficulties obtaining visas for archival research or DNA tests in Belgium. African Futures Lab argues that all mixed-race people put under Belgian state guardianship in colonial times should be able to obtain Belgian nationality if they wish.

The Belgian government has not yet decided on its position regarding the follow-up to the judgment. They can appeal to the supreme court, but only on a point of law.

Legal scholar Jérémiah Vervoort believes the court's decision is historic in Belgium as it marks the first time the state has been condemned for colonial crimes. He suggests the state could follow the Australian model of compensating victims by passing a law to compensate everyone affected by the policy.

The Association of Métis of Belgium hopes the court ruling will raise awareness of this largely unknown episode of history. They are preparing educational materials for teachers to help integrate this history into Belgian schools.