In brief
The Brussels Court of Appeals determined that the Belgian state committed acts of inhumanity and persecution, resulting in reparations of €50,000 each for the victims, who were forcibly taken from their parents during the colonial era.
A groundbreaking ruling in Brussels has found that Belgium's colonial policies in the Congo caused profound harm to a group of women, leading to reparations awarded by the court. The Brussels Court of Appeal ruled on Monday that five mixed-race women, now aged in their 70s and 80s, were entitled to compensation for their suffering as children due to the Belgian state's actions during its colonial rule in the Congo.These women—each with African mothers and European fathers—were forcibly removed from their families as young as age two, with the authorities placing them in Catholic-run institutions far from their homes. This system, which began in the late 19th century, resulted in the women facing extreme poverty, malnutrition, physical abuse, and the denial of their true identities. It persisted until Congo gained independence in 1960.The court concluded that these actions represented a severe human rights violation, necessitating reparations of €50,000 (approximately $52,000) for each of the five women. According to the court's ruling, there is “no doubt” that the women experienced "great suffering" due to the state-sanctioned kidnappings before they turned seven.The colonial governance from 1908 to 1960 by Belgium over what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, along with parts of Burundi and Rwanda, saw children being taken from their families. The strict policies of that era prohibited inter-racial relationships, leading to the forced separation of thousands of families.Monique Bitu Bingi, one of the plaintiffs, expressed her relief at the ruling, reflecting on the impact of the Belgian government's actions on her life. “The Belgian government took my youth away, and it was something I had to fight for, to explain to the world what happened,” said Bitu Bingi, who is now 75. This decision not only marks a significant step towards justice for the women involved but also serves as a recognition of the broader implications of Belgium's colonial legacy and the need for accountability.
