’WPCc BŠßU”©…œģMŌeƒ¾ …ē¼…›ģśNĶ8ņŻpŃz®$Éß”pŠ,Įń—Ø«- ßp¬Ü5]ŒBcüźhŌ¹±–†Ÿø4•ØłŠ‹uyżEߌ8«ośžŽCy˜š…»U˜ ·ŽK«÷Vy”Āø#1)R$ ū¾" ĢŃ<}¶SˆõŸüĮ«6;@…¾ėH Ć1”v”±NčżJüG‰Ą+ķæA‡ ĘÅ*JĄ­C¢Äž2(MŹŹŌšĒWrzT¤Ųµa«£ęŅõŠŽĮj;Š1šE.]©±įHėĮʏ’&lž4Æ8 öIfh: ¶éX#o˜CÅNŻøkųDŠ@œĶ\“šŲÓÜ $ŠV”ź\¹ū>Ó:žgŽūž‡µ—iŽ ķnsr£°±tkK\óąø“Ę)ÕĮC’®Öі£¤3ddW5S5La «ŗŽ”{ķI¾$—jĶŽ¾“„]Alėšīģ‘“Fž%w>ė%h{Nč„żŅäß÷õq&ż‹ćŠå›0Ŗ·Ųĵr]Ź?P¼mø °ø¹¤Evģü„ ±ųę˜ó0 ļV›[ūļ#ēWžu$kp>ē#õ”š¦‰ß[|ū{4€26[ ĀŽ‰24ש{€<[¹NŒūŗ@ #ɶUN %Ķ 0:Ó^ w41@ mBYNa˜\\YORK_UNIVERSITY\q_hrts_hp4000tn 0&Öd9 Z‹6Times New Roman RegularX(üœ$””ŌUSUS.,Ōš ÷0— §m÷003Ø0WORDPE3|x’U‹’ĄĄĄ Ż ƒüœ!ŻŌUSUS.,ŌŻ  ŻŌ_ŌŌ€¼ūĢ»XXŌņ ņÓ  ÓBELGIUMŌ€XÆ@X»¼ūĢŌŠ ° ŠÓ_ÓÓÓĢĢCERD€A/33/18€(1978)Š œģ ŠĢĢó óÓ¶ÓÓ  Ó92.€€Several€features€of€the€initial€report€of€Belgium€were€welcomed€by€the€Committee:€that€itŠ ` ° Šprovided€information€relating€to€all€the€provisions€of€the€substantive€articles€of€the€Convention€asŠ L œ Šwell€as€the€additional€information€envisaged€in€general€recommendations€III€and€IV€of€theŠ 8 ˆ ŠCommittee;€that€that€information€was€organized€on€the€basis€of€the€sequence€of€requirementsŠ $ t  Šfollowed€in€the€Convention;€and€that€the€full€texts€of€the€relevant€constitutional€and€legislativeŠ `  Šprovisions€were€supplied.Š üL  ŠĢ93.€€It€was€observed€that€the€language€of€article€6€of€the€Belgian€Constitution€of€1831,€proclaimingŠ Ō$  Šthat€š šthere€shall€be€no€distinction€of€classes€in€the€Statešš,€was€much€more€restrictive€than€theŠ Ą  Šreference€to€š šrace,€color,€descent,€or€national€or€ethnic€originšš€appearing€in€article€1,€paragraph€1€ofŠ ¬ü  Šthe€Convention.€€The€representative€of€Belgium,€in€his€reply,€noted€that€š šthe€Belgian€ConstitutionŠ ˜č Šhad€been€drafted€in€a€different€age,€when€the€primary€concern€of€the€drafters€had€been€to€ensure€thatŠ „Ō Šthe€country€did€not€revert€to€the€ways€of€the€previous€rgime.€€However,€its€meaning€had€beenŠ pĄ Šextended€as€conditions€in€the€country€changed,€and€it€was€now€interpreted€to€cover€all€forms€of€racialŠ \¬ Šdiscriminationšš.€€He€referred€to€article€6€ņņbisóó,€which€declared€that€š šenjoyment€of€the€rights€andŠ H˜ Šfreedoms€to€which€Belgians€are€entitled€shall€be€secured€without€discriminationšš.Š 4„ ŠĢ94.€€In€connection€with€article€2,€paragraph€1€(e),€of€the€Convention€and€the€statement€in€the€reportŠ  \ Šthat€there€were€no€racial€minorities€in€Belgium€in€the€strict€sense€of€the€word,€reference€was€madeŠ ųH Što€a€case€which€had€been€submitted€to€the€European€Court€of€Human€Rights€and€which€raised€theŠ ä4 Šquestion€of€whether€what€was€involved€was€merely€a€population€of€a€single€ethnic€origin€whichŠ Š  Šbecause€of€historical€circumstances€spoke€two€different€languages€or€whether€the€language€problemŠ ¼  Šhad€an€ethnic€background.€€The€representative€of€Belgium€asserted€that€the€integration€of€the€FlemishŠ Øų Šand€Walloon€populations€of€Belgium€had€been€such€that€it€could€no€longer€be€claimed€that€thereŠ ”ä Šwere€any€indigenous€ethnic€minorities€in€the€country,€and€that€the€only€remaining€distinction€betweenŠ € Š ŠBelgians€was€one€of€language.Š l!¼ ŠĢ95.€€With€regard€to€the€information€on€the€status€of€migrant€workers,€which€was€supplied€inŠ D#”! Šconnection€with€the€reporting€Stateššs€application€of€article€2,€paragraph€2,€of€the€Convention,€it€wasŠ 0$€" Šnoted€with€gratification€that€foreign€workers€in€Belgium€enjoyed€the€same€rights€as€Belgian€workersŠ %l # Šas€far€as€labour€legislation€was€concerned.€€However,€with€respect€to€the€additional€statement€„€thatŠ &X!$ Šthat€equality€was€not€expressly€written€into€the€legislation€but€was€due€to€the€fact€that€the€latterššsŠ ō&D"% Šfield€of€application€was€not€restricted€by€conditions€relating€to€nationality€„€the€hope€was€expressedŠ ą'0#& Šthat€Belgian€legislators€would€give€some€thought€to€the€advisability€of€expressly€recognizing€theŠ Ģ($' Šprinciples€in€question.€€The€efforts€made€by€the€Government€of€the€reporting€State€to€give€materialŠ ø)%( Šand€moral€assistance€to€the€new€immigrants€were€noted€with€satisfaction;€it€was€observed,€however,Š ¤*ō%) Šthat€in€addition€to€those€measures,€there€might€be€need€for€some€action€affecting€the€attitude€of€theŠ +ą&* Šmajority€of€the€population€with€respect€to€immigrant€workers.Š |,Ģ'+ ŠŠ h-ø(, Š96.€€The€Committee€took€note€of€the€information€on€pending€legislative€measures€aimed€at€givingŠ ° Šeffect€to€the€provisions€of€article€2,€paragraph€1€(d)€and€article€4,€subparagraphs€(a)€and€(b),€of€theŠ œģ ŠConvention.€€It€was€asked€whether€the€contemplated€penal€reforms€had€become€law€since€theŠ ˆŲ Šsubmission€of€the€report.€€The€representative€of€Belgium€stated€that,€subsequent€to€a€prolongedŠ tÄ Šministerial€crisis€in€his€country,€another€draft€was€being€prepared€for€submission€by€the€newŠ `° ŠGovernment.€€He€assured€the€Committee€that€š šthe€points€raised€and€comments€made€in€theŠ L œ ŠCommittee€would€be€transmitted€to€the€Belgian€administration€for€consideration€during€theŠ 8 ˆ Šformulation€of€the€draftšš.Š $ t ŠĢ97.€€Several€members€of€the€Committee€commented€on€the€draft€provisions€of€the€proposedŠ ü L  Šlegislation,€as€contained€in€the€report€under€consideration.€€The€failure€of€those€provisions€to€giveŠ č 8  Šeffect€to€the€provisions€of€article€4,€subparagraph€(b),€of€the€Convention€was€noted€with€regret€byŠ Ō$  Šall€Committee€members€who€participated€in€the€discussion.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€ofŠ Ą  ŠBelgium€referred€to€the€existence€of€š šsmall€groups€likely€to€practice€or€advocate€discriminatoryŠ ¬ü  Špracticesšš€but€asserted€š šthat€they€were€very€few€in€number,€and€their€activities€were€generallyŠ ˜č  Šconfined€to€holding€meetings,€distributing€pamphlets€and€painting€slogans€on€wallsšš.€€While€theŠ „Ō  ŠGovernment€could€š šprohibit€such€groupsšš,€it€had€š šconsidered€that€it€could€take€action€as€effectivelyŠ pĄ Šagainst€individual€offenders€as€against€the€groups€to€which€they€belongedšš.€€He€observed€that€š špublicŠ \¬ Šopinion€often€feared€measures€which€had€the€appearance€of€censorship€for€fear€that€those€provisionsŠ H˜ Šmight€later€be€abusedšš€and€that,€in€any€case,€š šBelgian€law€did€provide€for€the€possibility€ofŠ 4„ Šprohibiting€activities€contrary€to€the€public€orderšš.Š  p ŠĢ98.€€It€was€noted€with€surprise€that€the€Penal€Code,€in€articles€327€and€329,€provided€for€muchŠ ųH Šseverer€penalties€for€incitement€to€violence€for€reasons€other€than€racist€ones€than€those€provided€inŠ ä4 Šthe€proposed€legislation,€in€draft€article€2,€for€incitement€to€violence€against€groups€by€reason€of€theŠ Š  Šethnic€or€national€origin€of€their€members.Š ¼  ŠĢ99.€€With€reference€to€the€statement€of€interpretation€deposited€by€Belgium€at€the€time€of€itsŠ ”ä Šratification€of€the€Convention,€it€was€observed€that€in€view€of€articles€29€and€30€of€the€UniversalŠ €Š ŠDeclaration€of€Human€Rights,€it€could€not€be€asserted€that€freedom€of€expression€and€associationŠ l¼ Šcould€not€be€restricted€in€any€way.Š X Ø ŠĢ100.€€Reference€was€made€to€the€provisions€of€article€5,€subparagraph€(e)€(i)€and€(v),€of€theŠ 0"€  ŠConvention.€€It€was€noted€that€the€proposed€legislation€gave€effect€to€the€undertaking€of€StatesŠ #l! Šparties€under€article€5,€subparagraph€(f),€but€failed€to€prohibit€discrimination€in€the€hiring€of€workers,Š $X" Šas€was€required€by€subparagraph€(e)€(i)€of€article€5.€€With€regard€to€the€requirements€of€article€5,Š ō$D # Šsubparagraph€(e)€(v),€members€of€the€Committee€noted€the€statements€in€the€report€underŠ ą%0!$ Šconsideration€that€š šthe€system€of€selection€prevailing€in€the€schools€penalizes€the€culturally€mostŠ Ģ&"% Šimpoverished€sections€of€the€population,€including€many€children€of€migrant€workersšš€and€that€theŠ ø'#& Šreorganized€teaching€programmes€would€attempt€to€remedy€that€situation€in€all€State€educationalŠ ¤(ō#' Šinstitutions€by€1978.€€It€was€asked€whether€the€new€programmes€had€in€fact€been€put€into€effect€andŠ )ą$( Šwhether€primary€school€education€had€come€to€be€provided€in€the€languages€of€the€main€groups€ofŠ |*Ģ%) Šimmigrants€in€accordance€with€the€recommendations€of€UNESCO.€€The€representative€of€BelgiumŠ h+ø&* Šstated€that€immigrant€children€were€generally€integrated€with€Belgian€pupils€in€regular€schools€butŠ T,¤'+ Šcould€receive€special€tuition€in€their€own€language€and€culture.Š @-(, Š‡101.€€Additional€information€on€the€application€of€article€6€of€the€Convention€was€requested.€€InŠ ° Šparticular,€it€was€asked€whether€victims€of€discrimination€could€have€recourse€not€only€to€theŠ œģ ŠEuropean€Commission€on€Human€Rights€but€also€to€national€administrative€jurisdiction;€andŠ ˆŲ Šwhether,€in€the€latter€case,€recourse€could€be€had€to€the€regular€courts€or€to€a€constitutional€courtŠ tÄ Šdealing€with€such€cases.€€The€representative€of€Belgium€affirmed€that€there€were€internal€remediesŠ `° Šwhich€could€be€invoked;€indeed,€petitions€could€be€made€to€the€European€Court€only€after€all€internalŠ L œ Šremedies€had€been€exhausted.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢ102.€€The€detailed€information€on€the€implementation€of€article€7€of€the€Convention€was€welcomedŠ  ` Šby€members€of€the€Committee.Š ü L  ŠĢ103.€€It€was€noted€that€the€report€provided€no€information€on€judicial€measures€taken€to€give€effectŠ Ō$  Što€the€provisions€of€the€Convention;€and€information€on€such€cases€of€racial€discrimination€as€mightŠ Ą  Šhave€come€before€the€courts€was€requested.€€The€representative€of€Belgium€stated€that€the€existingŠ ¬ü  Šstatistics€on€the€processes€of€Belgian€law€did€not€make€it€possible€to€determine€how€many€casesŠ ˜č  Šinvolving€discrimination€were€taken€to€court€in€any€year;€he€hoped€that€such€information€could€beŠ „Ō  Šprovided€in€the€next€periodic€report.Š pĄ ŠĢ104.€€With€reference€to€the€statement€that€in€Belgium€the€European€Convention€on€Human€RightsŠ H˜ Šwas€directly€applicable€in€internal€law€and€was€regarded€as€taking€precedence€over€nationalŠ 4„ Šlegislation,€it€was€asked€whether€that€applied€to€all€international€agreements€to€which€Belgium€wasŠ  p Ša€party.€€The€representative€of€Belgium€stated€that€š šinternational€instruments€signed€and€ratified€byŠ  \ Šthe€Belgian€Government€were€self„executing€if€such€was€the€intention€of€those€who€drafted€them€andŠ ųH Šif€they€were€so€worded€as€to€enable€courts€to€refer€to€them€directly€without€necessitating€recourseŠ ä4 Što€internal€law€for€implementationšš.Š Š  ŠĢ105.€€The€fact€that€information€on€the€status€of€the€relations€of€the€reporting€State€with€the€racistŠ Øų Šrgimes€in€southern€Africa€was€furnished€in€the€report€was€welcomed€by€all€members€of€theŠ ”ä ŠCommittee;€however,€the€statements€that€that€question€was€outside€the€purview€of€the€ConventionŠ €Š Šand€that€š šthe€complete€isolation€of€the€South€African€rgime€might€tend€to€strengthen€it€in€its€presentŠ l¼ Šracist€policyšš,€which€were€endorsed€by€some€members€of€the€Committee,€were€strongly€disagreedŠ X Ø Šwith€by€several€other€members.Š  D!” Šņ ņCERD€A/34/18€(1979)Š ° ŠĢĢó ó222.€€The€information€contained€in€the€second€periodic€report€of€Belgium€(CERD/C/16/Add.2)€wasŠ tÄ Šconsidered€by€the€Committee€together€with€the€supplementary€information€given€by€theŠ `° Šrepresentative€of€the€reporting€State€in€his€introductory€statement€which€included€some€commentsŠ L œ Šon€the€report€and€concerning€questions€raised€during€the€consideration€of€the€initial€report.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢ223.€€The€Committee€expressed€its€appreciation€of€the€report€which€was€considered€to€be€full,€veryŠ  ` Šinformative€and€frank.Š ü L  ŠĢ224.€€In€connection€with€article€2€of€the€Convention,€some€members€asked€how€the€Act€of€16€JulyŠ Ō$  Š1973€protected€the€cultural€development€of€the€three€national€communities€in€Belgium€and€whatŠ Ą  Šwere€the€composition€and€activities€of€the€Cultural€Councils€mentioned€in€the€report.€€Efforts€madeŠ ¬ü  Šby€the€Government€to€improve€the€lot€of€migrant€workers€were€commended.€€At€the€same€time,Š ˜č  Šattention€was€drawn€to€the€statement€in€the€report€that€legal€confirmation€of€the€equality€of€BelgianŠ „Ō  Šand€foreign€workers,€which€in€practice€has€never€been€called€into€question,€would€only€cause€doubtŠ pĄ Šand€insecurity,€and€information€was€sought€on€the€steps€being€taken€or€planned€to€eliminateŠ \¬ Šsegregation€and€discrimination€which,€according€to€the€report,€existed€in€Belgium.€€The€financial€andŠ H˜ Šadministrative€assistance€accorded€to€the€Islamic€religion€in€Belgium€was€noted€with€satisfaction.€Š 4„ ŠA€question€was€asked€how€a€religion€could€achieve€the€status€of€being€š šrecognizedšš€and€whatŠ  p Šhappened€in€the€case€of€non„recognized€religions.Š  \ ŠĢ225.€€Some€members€regretted€the€Belgian€Governmentššs€position€of€principle€in€connection€withŠ ä4 Šrelations€with€the€racist€rgimes€in€southern€Africa,€and€it€was€stressed€that€he€Committee€could€notŠ Š  Šbe€denied€the€right€to€inquire€into€the€way€in€which€States€parties€discharged€their€obligations€underŠ ¼  Šarticle€3€of€the€Convention.€€Two€members,€however,€expressed€the€opinion€that€such€legalŠ Øų Šobligations€were€limited€to€territories€under€the€jurisdiction€of€States€parties.€€The€question€wasŠ ”ä Šasked€whether€the€Belgian€Government€had€ratified€the€International€Convention€on€the€SuppressionŠ €Š Šand€Punishment€of€the€Crime€of€ņņApartheidóó.Š l¼ ŠĢ226.€€With€regard€to€article€4€of€the€Convention,€it€was€noted€that€it€was€difficult€to€understand€theŠ D!” Šargument€of€the€report€that€drastic€measures€in€connection€with€the€racist€or€š šNazišš€groups€existingŠ 0"€  Šin€Belgium€should€be€avoided€lest€such€activities€should€be€driven€underground€and€made€difficultŠ #l! Što€control.€€It€had€always€been€the€Committeeššs€view€that€the€provisions€of€article€4€of€theŠ $X" ŠConvention€were€mandatory€on€States€parties€and€it€was€hoped€that€its€opinion€would€be€brought€toŠ ō$D # Šthe€attention€of€Belgian€legislators.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢ227.€€The€Committee€had€no€doubt€that€Belgium€respected€the€rights€and€freedoms€of€article€5€of€theŠ ø'#& ŠConvention,€in€particular€the€rights€to€freedom€of€opinion€and€expression€and€to€the€freedom€ofŠ ¤(ō#' Špeaceful€assembly€and€association.€€However,€article€29.2€of€the€Universal€Declaration€of€HumanŠ )ą$( ŠRights€provided€for€limitations€in€order€to€secure€respect€for€the€rights€and€freedoms€of€others.€€ItŠ |*Ģ%) Šwas€pointed€out€in€this€connection€that€the€existence€of€racist€groups€in€Belgium€tended€to€restrictŠ h+ø&* Šthe€freedom€of€others€and€the€matter€had€to€be€settled€in€accordance€with€the€provisions€of€theŠ T,¤'+ ŠConvention.Š @-(, Š‡228.€€In€connection€with€legislative,€judicial€and€administrative€measures€relating€to€the€need€toŠ ° Šassure€to€everybody€protection€and€remedies€through€the€competent€national€tribunals€and€other€StateŠ œģ Šinstitutions,€clarification€was€requested€concerning€the€self„executing€nature€of€certain€conventionsŠ ˆŲ Šin€Belgium.€€It€was€noted€that€under€article€1382€of€the€Civil€Code€the€judge€was€empowered€to€orderŠ tÄ Šthe€payment€of€compensation€for€any€individual€act€which€caused€damage.€€Information€was€soughtŠ `° Šas€to€whether€the€victim€could€obtain€damages€in€the€case€of€a€minor€offence.Š L œ ŠĢ229.€€As€far€as€article€7€of€the€Convention€was€concerned,€it€was€felt€that€the€report€provided€ampleŠ $ t Šinformation€concerning€the€implementation€of€this€article.Š  ` ŠĢ230.€€Replying€to€the€comments€of€the€members€of€the€Committee,€the€representative€of€BelgiumŠ č 8  Špointed€out€that€the€Cultural€Councils€for€the€French,€Dutch€and€German€communities€wereŠ Ō$  Šcomposed€of€deputies€and€senators€and€that€their€tasks€extended,€in€particular,€to€the€defense€ofŠ Ą  Šlanguages,€scientific€research,€the€cultural€heritage,€young€people,€public€information,€life„longŠ ¬ü  Šeducation€and€leisure€activities.€€Foreign€workers€enjoyed€the€same€rights€in€Belgium€as€nationalŠ ˜č  Šworkers.€€However,€Belgium,€like€other€host€countries,€still€had€to€make€considerable€efforts€toŠ „Ō  Šimprove€their€living€conditions.€€The€Belgian€legislation,€while€fully€guaranteeing€freedom€ofŠ pĄ Šreligion,€recognized€not€religions€as€such,€but€the€authorities€responsible€for€administering€theirŠ \¬ Šearthly€goods.Š H˜ ŠĢ231.€€In€reply€to€the€questions€concerning€Belgiumššs€relations€with€the€rgimes€in€southern€Africa,Š  p Šhe€said€that€that€problem€was€highly€political€in€nature€and,€therefore,€fell€within€the€competence€ofŠ  \ Šthe€General€Assembly,€the€Security€Council€and€their€subsidiary€organs,€in€which€Belgium€made€itsŠ ųH Šposition€known€and€was€determined€to€co„operate€with€all€Member€States.€€Belgium€had€not€ratifiedŠ ä4 Šthe€International€Convention€on€the€Suppression€and€Punishment€of€the€Crime€of€ņņApartheidóó€forŠ Š  Šjuridical€reasons.Š ¼  ŠĢ232.€€With€reference€to€article€4€of€the€Convention,€he€acknowledged€that€no€specific€provision€ofŠ ”ä Šcriminal€law€had€yet€been€promulgated€to€prohibit€organizations€and€organized€propaganda€activitiesŠ €Š Šwhich€incited€racial€discrimination.€€The€majority€of€the€population€feared€that€specific€restrictiveŠ l¼ Šmeasures€might€one€day€be€abusively€applied.€€Belgian€groups€with€racist€tendencies€were€often€mereŠ X Ø Šņņde€factoóó€associations€that€would€go€underground€or€change€their€name€if€too€radical€measures€wereŠ D!” Šadopted.€€But€the€authorities€already€possessed€effective€means€for€punishing€offences€committedŠ 0"€  Šby€such€groups.Š #l! ŠĢ233.€€In€connection€with€article€6€of€the€Convention,€he€pointed€out€that€the€self„executing€characterŠ ō$D # Šof€certain€international€treaties€was€in€fact€determined€by€case€law.€€The€possibility€of€invoking€aŠ ą%0!$ Šparticular€article€of€the€Convention€had€so€far€remained€an€š šacademicšš€question€since€no€petitionŠ Ģ&"% Šconcerning€acts€of€racial€discrimination€had€ever€been€referred€to€any€court.€€He€said€that€the€nextŠ ø'#& Šreport€would€provide€information€on€the€remedies€available€to€victims€of€acts€of€racial€discriminationŠ ¤(ō#' Šand€the€compensation€they€could€claim.Š  )ą$( Šņ ņCERD€A/39/18€(1984)Š ° ŠĢĢó ó234.€€The€third€and€fourth€periodic€reports€of€Belgium,€submitted€in€one€documentŠ tÄ Š(CERD/C/88/Add.5),€were€considered€by€the€Committee€together€with€the€introductory€statementŠ `° Šmade€by€the€representative€of€the€reporting€State,€who€referred€in€particular€to€information€providedŠ L œ Šin€the€report€on€legislative€changes€made€in€Belgium€with€a€view€to€complying€with€obligationsŠ 8 ˆ Šunder€the€Convention.€€She€also€stated€that€with€regard€to€the€situation€in€South€Africa€and€relationsŠ $ t Šwith€that€country,€Belgium€had€always€held€that€the€Convention€imposed€upon€States€partiesŠ  ` Šobligations€in€respect€of€persons€and€groups€covered€by€their€territorial€jurisdiction€and€thatŠ ü L  Šinternational€politics€were€not€relevant€to€the€Committees€proceedings.€€Nevertheless,€Belgium€hadŠ č 8  Šalways€been€prepared€to€associate€itself€with€any€initiative,€involving€the€condemnation€of€theŠ Ō$  Špractice€of€racial€segregation€in€South€Africa€and€to€remind€the€South€African€authorities€of€the€needŠ Ą  Što€end€the€policy€of€ņņapartheidóó.€€Furthermore,€through€its€participation€in€the€United€Nations€CouncilŠ ¬ü  Šfor€Namibia,€its€bilateral€contributions€and€its€co„operation€with€various€international€organizationsŠ ˜č  Šproviding€humanitarian€assistance,€Belgium€directly€and€actively€assisted€the€victims€of€ņņapartheidóó.Š „Ō  ŠHer€Government€also€believed€that€only€through€dialogue€and€the€promotion€of€peaceful€change€inŠ pĄ Šconformity€with€the€purposes€and€principles€of€the€Charter€could€respect€for€the€dignity€of€the€humanŠ \¬ Šperson€be€ensured€in€that€region.Š H˜ ŠĢ235.€€The€Committee€commended€the€Government€of€Belgium€for€its€comprehensive€report€and€forŠ  p Šits€efforts€in€bringing€its€internal€legislation€into€line€with€the€Convention.€€It€also€appreciated€theŠ  \ Šfact€that€the€Government€had€taken€into€account€the€Committeeššs€guidelines€in€preparing€its€report.Š ųH ŠĢ236.€€In€connection€with€article€2,€members€drew€attention€to€the€Governmentššs€policy€concerningŠ Š  Šforeign€workers€who€constituted€a€high€percentage€of€the€total€population€of€the€country.€€MoreŠ ¼  Šinformation€was€requested€on€steps€taken€or€contemplated€to€prevent€the€segregation€of€andŠ Øų Šdiscrimination€against€foreign€workers€in€the€labour€market,€on€measures€against€the€exploitationŠ ”ä Šof€the€illegally€recruited€foreign€workers€and€on€special€economic€and€social€assistance€programmesŠ €Š Šfor€foreign€workers€aimed€at€solving€their€housing€and€educational€problems.€€It€was€also€asked€whatŠ l¼ Šthe€Governmentššs€policy€was€with€regard€to€foreign€workers€attempting€to€obtain€resident€status€andŠ X Ø Šcitizenship€and€what€measures€were€taken€or€being€contemplated€to€integrate€them€in€the€BelgianŠ D!” Šsociety.€€It€was€noted€that€some€of€the€communal€advisory€councils€for€immigrants€established€inŠ 0"€  ŠBelgium€had€been€disbanded€and€it€was€asked€what€the€Government€had€done€to€revive€them;€how,Š #l! Šin€their€absence,€the€interests€of€immigrants€in€the€community€were€represented;€and€what€theŠ $X" Špractical€results€of€the€advisory€councils€for€immigrants€were€in€solving€the€problems€faced€byŠ ō$D # Šimmigrants€in€their€communities.€€Furthermore,€commenting€on€information€concerning€the€variousŠ ą%0!$ Šethnic€groups€or€minorities€living€in€Belgium,€members€wished€to€know€the€results€of€the€mostŠ Ģ&"% Šrecent€census€of€the€population;€what€the€relations€were€between€the€larger€and€the€smaller€ethnicŠ ø'#& Šgroups;€whether€there€were€currently€problems€between€those€groups;€whether€they€all€enjoyed€theŠ ¤(ō#' Šsame€opportunities€and€what€was€their€economic€status.Š )ą$( ŠĢ237.€€With€reference€to€article€3€of€the€Convention,€it€was€recalled€that€the€Committeeššs€guidelinesŠ h+ø&* Šsuggested€that€States€parties€should€provided€information€on€the€status€of€their€diplomatic,€economicŠ T,¤'+ Šand€trade€relations€with€the€Government€of€South€Africa.€€In€this€connection,€members€askedŠ @-(, Šwhether€Belgium€had€investments€in€South€Africa€and€whether€there€were€cultural,€sporting€or€otherŠ ° Šcontacts€between€the€two€countries,€whether€Belgium€had€acceded€to€the€Code€of€Conduct€of€theŠ œģ ŠEuropean€Economic€Community€regarding€investments€in€South€Africa,€and€whether€it€hadŠ ˆŲ Šlegislation€designed€to€discourage€investments€in€that€country.Š tÄ ŠĢ238.€€With€regard€to€article€4,€paragraph€(a),€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€focusedŠ L œ Štheir€attention€on€the€Act€of€30€July€1981€whereby€certain€acts€on€racism€or€xenophobia€were€madeŠ 8 ˆ Špunishable€by€law€in€Belgium.€€They€observed€that€articles€1€and€2€of€the€Act€raised€certain€problemsŠ $ t Šby€requiring€that€certain€offences€must€be€committed€publicly€in€order€to€be€punishable.€€It€wasŠ  ` Špointed€out€that€certain€discriminatory€measures€which€could€be€taken€through€correspondence€orŠ ü L  Šin€the€rental€of€a€private€apartment€would€not€be€covered€by€the€provision€of€the€Act€only€becauseŠ č 8  Šthey€were€not€taken€publicly,€and€it€was€asked€what€approach€the€authorities€of€Belgium€would€takeŠ Ō$  Šin€such€cases.€€With€reference€to€article€4,€paragraph€(b),€of€the€Convention,€a€similar€clarificationŠ Ą  Šwas€requested€on€the€provisions€of€article€3€of€the€Act,€that€members€or€supporters€of€an€associationŠ ¬ü  Šwhich€advocated€racial€discrimination€could€be€punished€only€when€their€activities€advocating€racialŠ ˜č  Šdiscrimination€were€manifested€and€repeated€and€took€place€publicly.€€In€this€connection,€membersŠ „Ō  Šwished€to€receive€the€full€text€of€articles€1€to€5€of€the€Act€of€30€July€1981.€€They€also€wished€to€knowŠ pĄ Šwhat€were€the€results€achieved€by€the€Act,€whether€the€enforcement€of€the€Act€had€led€to€theŠ \¬ Šdisappearance€of€the€Nazi€organizations€or€racist€groups€in€Belgium€and,€if€not,€what€were€theŠ H˜ Špolicies€to€combat€them,€what€was€the€status€of€the€investigation€into€contacts€between€those€groupsŠ 4„ Šand€similar€groups€in€other€countries,€whether€the€media€had€adopted€any€procedures€for€self„Š  p Šcensorship€or€a€code€of€conduct€in€respect€of€racist€propaganda,€and€who€was€competent€to€declareŠ  \ Šracist€an€organization€dedicated€to€the€promotion€of€xenophobia.€€With€reference€to€article€4,Š ųH Šparagraph€(c),€of€the€Convention,€it€was€noted€that€the€decision€concerning€the€refoulement€ofŠ ä4 Šfamilies€of€foreign€workers€was€in€the€hands€of€the€authorities€responsible€for€border€control€and€itŠ Š  Šwas€asked€whether€there€was€some€procedure€or€special€measures€to€prevent€discriminatory€practicesŠ ¼  Šat€the€border,€especially€when€the€individual€concerned€had€not€met€the€necessary€requirementsŠ Øų Šbecause€he€or€she€was€unaware€of€them.€€It€was€also€asked€whether€there€were€measures€to€reprimandŠ ”ä Ša€border€control€official€who€acted€in€a€discriminatory€or€arbitrary€fashion€and€what€procedure€hadŠ €Š Šbeen€used€to€resolve€such€cases€which€might€have€occurred.Š l¼ ŠĢ239.€€With€reference€to€article€5€of€the€Convention,€more€information€was€requested€on€the€literacyŠ D!” Šrate€among€immigrants,€on€the€percentage€of€their€children€attending€primary€and€secondary€schoolsŠ 0"€  Šand€universities,€on€the€drop„out€rate€among€them€and€on€how€the€language€barrier€was€overcome.Š #l! ŠĢ240.€€As€regards€article€6€of€the€Convention,€it€was€asked€whether€the€fact€that€the€Convention€wasŠ ō$D # Špart€of€Belgian€domestic€law€and€prevailed€over€ordinary€law€could€mean€that€there€existed€a€sortŠ ą%0!$ Šof€general€administrative€remedy€against€acts€by€public€authorities€which€were€at€variance€with€theŠ Ģ&"% Šprovisions€of€the€Convention.€€The€wish€was€also€expressed€to€receive€a€summary€of€cases€involvingŠ ø'#& Šracist€and€xenophobic€organizations€which€had€come€before€the€courts.Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢ241.€€Turning€to€article€7€of€the€Convention,€members€wished€to€be€informed€of€the€legislative€andŠ |*Ģ%) Šother€measures€which€the€Belgian€Government€had€adopted€to€implement€its€provisions,€particularlyŠ h+ø&* Šin€the€field€of€education€and€with€special€reference€to€the€children€of€immigrants.€€It€was€also€askedŠ T,¤'+ Šwhether€the€oral€expression€of€racist€opinions€by€teachers€was€punishable€under€the€Act€of€30€JulyŠ @-(, Š1981.Š ° ŠĢ242.€€Replying€to€questions€of€the€Committee,€the€representative€of€Belgium€explained€that€theŠ ˆŲ Šestablishment€of€the€communal€advisory€councils€for€immigrants€had€been€an€experiment€launchedŠ tÄ Štowards€the€end€of€the€1960s€at€the€local€community€level.€€While€the€results€had€varied€fromŠ `° Šcommune€to€commune,€a€certain€lack€of€interest€on€the€part€of€the€foreigners€had€been€noted.€Š L œ ŠNevertheless,€if€immigrants€had€problems,€they€could€always€resort€to€the€communal€authorities€evenŠ 8 ˆ Šwhere€there€were€no€advisory€councils.Š $ t ŠĢ243.€€With€regard€to€article€3€of€the€Convention,€she€pointed€out€that€Belgium€had€acceded€to€theŠ ü L  Šcode€of€Conduct€of€the€European€Economic€Community,€that€it€did€not€encourage€investment€inŠ č 8  ŠSouth€Africa€or€grant€any€economic€or€trade€facilities€to€promote€contacts,€that€there€were€no€officialŠ Ō$  Štrade€missions€sent€to€South€Africa,€and€that€the€sporting€contacts€depended€on€private€initiatives.€Š Ą  ŠIn€1977,€Belgium€had€suspended€its€cultural€agreement€with€South€Africa€and€had€reintroduced€theŠ ¬ü  Švisa€requirement€for€South€African€nationals,€a€measure€which€was€strictly€applied.Š ˜č  ŠĢ244.€As€regards€article€4€of€the€Convention,€the€representative€stated€that€the€requirement€laid€downŠ pĄ Šin€the€Act€of€30€July€1981€regarding€the€public€nature€of€certain€activities€should€be€interpretedŠ \¬ Šbroadly,€in€accordance€with€article€444€of€the€Criminal€Code€of€Belgium.€€The€Act€would€not€applyŠ H˜ Šin€the€case€of€a€landlord€who€refused€to€rent€a€private€apartment€to€a€foreigner,€because€it€would€beŠ 4„ Švery€difficult€to€present€legal€evidence€of€the€grounds€for€the€refusal,€unless€there€were€witnesses.€Š  p ŠFurthermore,€measures€to€counter€the€activities€of€organizations€practicing€or€advocating€racialŠ  \ Šdiscrimination€had€to€be€considered€in€the€specific€context€of€Belgium,€where€the€right€of€associationŠ ųH Šconstituted€a€tangible€manifestation€of€independence€from€the€authorities.€€It€was€for€the€courts€toŠ ä4 Šdetermine€the€racist€or€discriminatory€nature€of€such€associations€on€the€basis€of€evidence€presentedŠ Š  Šby€the€Public€Prosecutor€and€on€the€basis€of€statements€by€the€parties€and€the€associationsŠ ¼  Šthemselves.€€Her€Government€was€of€the€view€that€if€excessively€radical€measures€were€adoptedŠ Øų Šagainst€those€associations,€there€was€a€danger€that€they€might€be€driven€underground,€which€wouldŠ ”ä Šnaturally€make€it€more€difficult€to€take€action€against€them.€€The€requirement€that€the€activities€ofŠ €Š Šsuch€associations€be€know€to€the€public€in€order€to€be€punishable€by€law€seemed€a€matter€of€commonŠ l¼ Šsense€since€it€would€be€rather€difficult€to€prove€any€practice€of€racial€discrimination€if€those€practicesŠ X Ø Šwere€not€a€matter€of€public€knowledge.€€On€the€other€hand,€the€press€was€at€liberty€to€adopt€suchŠ D!” Šmeasures€as€it€considered€useful€in€helping€journalists€to€perform€their€duties€within€the€frameworkŠ 0"€  Šof€the€Act€of€30€July€1981.€The€representative€stated€that€article€4€of€the€Act€was€applicable€to€borderŠ #l! Šcontrol€officials.€€She€also€pointed€out€that€the€Act€was€fairly€recent€and€it€was€still€too€early€toŠ $X" Šassess€the€results€of€its€implementation.Š ō$D # ŠĢ245.€€As€to€the€supremacy€of€the€Convention€and€international€instruments€in€general€over€domesticŠ Ģ&"% Šlegislation,€she€explained€that€it€was€for€the€courts€to€rule€on€the€executory€force€of€such€instruments.€Š ø'#& ŠThe€courts€gave€precedence€to€the€provisions€of€the€international€instrument€when€there€was€anyŠ ¤(ō#' Šconflict€with€domestic€legislation.Š )ą$( ŠĢ246.€€The€representative€finally€stated€that€further€information€in€reply€to€questions€raised€by€theŠ h+ø&* ŠCommittee€would€be€provided€in€her€Governmentššs€next€periodic€report.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ  @-(, Šņ ņCERD€A/47/18€(1992)Š ° ŠĢĢó ó44.€€The€Committee€considered€the€fifth,€sixth,€seventh€and€eighth€periodic€reports€of€BelgiumŠ tÄ Š(CERD/C/194/Add.3)€at€its€939ņņthóó,€940ņņthóó€and€950ņņthóó€meetings,€on€3,€4€and€11€August€1992€(seeŠ `° ŠCERD/C/SR.939,€940€and€950).Š L œ ŠĢ45.€€The€reports€were€introduced€by€the€representative€of€the€State€party,€who€noted€that€there€hadŠ $ t Šbeen€a€number€of€legislative€and€constitutional€reforms€undertaken€in€Belgium€since€the€submissionŠ  ` Šof€its€last€report.€€The€laws€concerning€the€acquisition€of€nationality€had€been€amended€in€July€1991Š ü L  Što€extend€Belgian€nationality€automatically€to€children€born€in€Belgium€of€parents€who€wereŠ č 8  Šthemselves€born€in€Belgium.€€Responsibility€for€matters€concerning€the€entry€and€departure€ofŠ Ō$  Šforeigners€had€been€shifted€from€the€Ministry€of€Justice€to€the€Ministry€of€the€Interior.€€WhileŠ Ą  Šregulations€in€those€matters€might€appear€to€be€discriminatory,€equality€of€treatment€lay€at€the€baseŠ ¬ü  Šof€all€Belgian€policies€regarding€aliens,€who€enjoyed€the€same€civil€liberties€as€Belgian€citizens.€Š ˜č  ŠThat€was€in€accordance€with€the€obligations€of€Belgium€under€a€number€of€international€humanŠ „Ō  Šrights€instruments,€including€the€Convention.€€The€highest€court€in€Belgium,€the€Court€of€Cassation,Š pĄ Šhad€recognized€the€primacy€of€the€provisions€of€those€international€instruments€over€domestic€lawŠ \¬ Ševen€when€the€latter€predate€the€former.€€The€provisions€of€those€instruments€may€be€invoked€byŠ H˜ Šcitizens€and€foreigners€alike€in€judicial€and€administrative€proceedings.Š 4„ ŠĢ46.€€In€regard€to€racism€and€racial€discrimination,€there€were€no€ethnic€minorities€in€Belgium€otherŠ  \ Šthan€immigrants,€most€of€whom€were€of€either€Moroccan€or€Turkish€origin.€€Both€of€thoseŠ ųH Šcommunities€had€been€the€object€of€discrimination,€racism€and€xenophobia.€€For€that€reason,€theŠ ä4 ŠOffice€of€the€Crown€Commissioner€had€been€created€three€years€before€with€the€responsibility€ofŠ Š  Šexamining€the€situation€of€immigrants€in€Belgium,€with€a€view€to€proposing€policy€changesŠ ¼  Šnecessary€for€their€protection€and€their€insertion€in€society.€€The€proposals€of€the€Commissioner€areŠ Øų Šreviewed€by€the€Interministerial€Conference€on€Immigration,€which€is€presided€over€by€the€PrimeŠ ”ä ŠMinister.Š €Š ŠĢ47.€€€Members€of€the€Committee€expressed€their€appreciation€for€the€large€amount€of€informationŠ X Ø Šsubmitted€by€the€Government€of€Belgium€in€its€report.€€It€was€noted,€however,€that€ongoingŠ D!” Šlegislative€reform€was€not€a€valid€reason€for€the€non„submission€of€reports€by€States€parties.€€On€theŠ 0"€  Šcontrary,€Governments€undertaking€such€reforms€should€be€reporting€regularly€to€the€Committee.€Š #l! ŠIt€was€also€noted€there€had€been€little€reference€in€the€report€to€minorities€which€were€not€French„orŠ $X" ŠDutch„speaking,€to€the€ways€in€which€their€rights€were€ensured€or€to€the€status€of€foreigners€inŠ ō$D # ŠBelgium€who€accounted€for€some€9€per€cent€of€the€work€force.€€In€particular,€more€demographic€dataŠ ą%0!$ Šrelating€to€ethnic€differences€would€be€welcome€in€the€next€report,€as€well€as€greater€information€onŠ Ģ&"% Šcomplaints€procedures€for€victims€of€racial€discrimination,€and€upon€the€outcomes€of€suchŠ ø'#& Šcomplaints.Š ¤(ō#' ŠĢ48.€€With€regard€to€article€1€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€pointed€out€that,€in€orderŠ |*Ģ%) Što€have€a€more€accurate€picture€of€the€actual€situation€in€Belgium,€the€Committee€needed€statisticsŠ h+ø&* Šon€unemployment,€delinquency€and€drug€abuse€rates€among€minority€groups€as€compared€with€theŠ T,¤'+ Šrest€of€society.€€In€regard€to€paragraph€4€of€the€article,€information€was€requested€on€any€specialŠ @-(, Šmeasures€of€š špositive€discriminationšš€undertaken€to€promote€the€equality€of€groups€subject€to€racialŠ ° Šdiscrimination.€€Clarification€was€requested€as€to€the€difference€between€the€situation€of€foreignersŠ œģ Šfrom€the€European€Community€and€those€from€other€countries€in€regard€to€employment€and€standardŠ ˆŲ Šof€living.Š tÄ ŠĢ49.€€Concerning€article€2€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€how€theŠ L œ Šprovisions€of€the€Convention€had€been€integrated€into€national€legislation€and€how€they€had€beenŠ 8 ˆ Šapplied.€€Information€was€requested€on€integrationist€and€multicultural€organizations€in€Belgium€andŠ $ t Šhow€such€organizations€were€being€encouraged€by€the€Government.€€Reference€was€made€to€theŠ  ` Šsystem€of€quotas€regarding€immigration€and€details€were€requested€as€to€the€number€of€personsŠ ü L  Šrefused€entry€into€Belgium€under€that€restriction.€€Information€was€requested€concerning€recourseŠ č 8  Šprocedures€in€cases€of€refusal€of€entry,€and€about€the€position€of€Zairean€nationals.Š Ō$  ŠĢ50.€€Members€of€the€Committee€noted€that€there€was€no€information€contained€in€the€reportŠ ¬ü  Šconcerning€article€3€of€the€Convention€regarding€racial€segregation€and€apartheid.€€More€informationŠ ˜č  Šconcerning€the€application€of€those€provisions€was€requested.Š „Ō  ŠĢ51.€€With€reference€to€article€4€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€knowŠ \¬ Šwhether€those€provisions€of€the€Criminal€Code€dealing€with€acts€of€racism€and€xenophobia€(arts.Š H˜ Š151,€444€and€448)€had€been€invoked€in€the€courts€and,€if€so,€with€what€result.€€Reference€was€alsoŠ 4„ Šmade€to€the€Act€of€30€July€1981,€which€appeared€to€be€incomplete€with€regard€to€article€4€of€theŠ  p ŠConvention.€€Clarification€was€requested€as€to€whether€racist€organizations€were€themselvesŠ  \ Šconsidered€illegal€or€if€it€were€only€the€racist€acts€of€their€members€that€were€prohibited.€€MembersŠ ųH Šnoted€that€the€Government€was€inclined€to€limit€free€speech€out€of€concern€over€racism€and€askedŠ ä4 Šwhy€similar€restrictions€on€freedom€of€association€were€not€applied€in€regard€to€racist€organizations.Š Š  ŠĢ52.€€In€respect€of€article€5€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€know€if€thereŠ Øų Šwas€a€distinction€between€nationals€of€countries€of€the€European€Community€and€nationals€of€otherŠ ”ä Šcountries€in€regard€to€voting€rights€in€Belgium€and€access€to€posts€in€the€administration.€€FurtherŠ €Š Šinformation€was€requested€regarding€the€Act€of€15€December€1980€and,€in€particular,€restrictions€onŠ l¼ Šthe€exercise€of€the€freedom€of€expression,€assembly€and€association.€€Members€wished€to€know€onŠ X Ø Šwhich€grounds€a€professional€identity€card€was€accorded€or€refused€to€a€migrant€worker.€€How€wereŠ D!” Špersons€protected€against€racial€discrimination€in€matters€relating€to€the€choice€of€employment,€equalŠ 0"€  Špay,€trade€union€rights€and€the€right€to€housing?€€Members€of€the€Committee€also€wished€to€haveŠ #l! Šinformation€on€recent€developments€relating€to€the€Technical€Committee,€described€in€paragraph€95Š $X" Šof€the€report,€created€to€deal€with€matters€concerning€the€appointment€of€Islamic€teachers.Š ō$D # ŠĢ53.€€Concerning€article€6€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€noted€that€while€1,269Š Ģ&"% Šcomplaints€of€racist€and€xenophobic€acts€had€been€filed€with€the€authorities,€there€had€been€only€12Š ø'#& Šconvictions.€€What€were€the€factors€behind€such€a€low€conviction€rate?€€It€was€also€pointed€out€that,Š ¤(ō#' Šas€the€protection€against€racial€discrimination€increased,€the€number€of€complaints€of€discriminationŠ )ą$( Šfiled€could€also€be€expected€to€increase.€€Why€was€the€number€of€such€complaints€filed€annually€inŠ |*Ģ%) ŠBelgium€so€low€and€decreasing€even€further?€€More€detailed€information€on€the€jurisprudence€in€theŠ h+ø&* Šarea€of€racial€discrimination€was€also€requested.Š T,¤'+ ŠŠ @-(, Š54.€€With€regard€to€article€7€of€the€Convention,€members€of€the€Committee€wished€to€haveŠ ° Šinformation€on€the€recommendations€made€by€the€Crown€Commissionerššs€Office€concerningŠ œģ Šeducation€and€housing.€€Clarification€was€requested€as€to€whether€the€Government€subsidized€onlyŠ ˆŲ ŠChristian€schools€or€if€such€support€extended€to€Islamic€schools€also.€€Members€wished€to€know€ifŠ tÄ Štraining€programmes€had€been€developed€for€magistrates,€police€and€other€officials€who€deal€withŠ `° Šimmigrants.Š L œ ŠĢ55.€€In€his€reply,€the€representative€of€the€State€party€referred€to€questions€of€the€members€concerningŠ $ t Šthe€position€of€the€Convention€in€Belgian€law.€€He€explained€that€where€it€was€clearly€stated€in€theŠ  ` Štext€of€a€treaty€that€a€provision€had€direct€effect,€then€such€provisions€were€considered€š šself„Š ü L  Šsufficientšš€in€Belgian€law€and€could€be€invoked€before€any€Belgian€court.€€However,€where€thereŠ č 8  Šwas€no€such€indication,€direct€applicability€was€a€question€for€the€courts€to€determine.€€Most€of€theŠ Ō$  Šprovisions€of€the€Convention€with€which€the€Committee€was€concerned€were€not€š šself„sufficientššŠ Ą  Šand€thus€the€Belgian€legislature€had€to€take€certain€measures€to€give€them€direct€effect.€€One€suchŠ ¬ü  Šmeasure€had€been€the€1981€Act€on€the€prevention€of€acts€of€racism€and€xenophobia,€which€had€beenŠ ˜č  Šdiscussed€in€the€report€under€consideration€by€the€Committee.Š „Ō  ŠĢ56.€€The€representative€pointed€out€that€the€Belgian€system€was€based€on€the€fundamental€conceptŠ \¬ Šof€š šlinguistic€territoriesšš,€of€which€there€were€four:€the€Flemish,€Walloon,€German„speaking€andŠ H˜ Šbilingual€territories.€€In€response€to€questions€about€the€German„language€community,€he€stated€thatŠ 4„ Šthere€were€64,000€German„speaking€Belgian€nationals€out€of€the€countryššs€total€population€of€someŠ  p Š10€million.€€Belgium,€however,€did€not€recognize€minorities€as€such,€as€the€communities€hadŠ  \ Šequivalent€powers€and€mechanisms.€€There€were€three€regions,€namely,€the€Flemish€region,€theŠ ųH ŠWalloon€region€and€the€Brussels€capital€region,€which€was€bilingual.€€Those€entities€had€mechanismsŠ ä4 Šsimilar€to€those€operating€at€the€national€level,€with€an€executive€power,€a€legislative€power€and€aŠ Š  Šcertain€degree€of€financial€autonomy.€€It€was€in€the€frontier€areas€between€those€linguistic€territoriesŠ ¼  Šthat€problems€might€arise€and€it€was€there€that€a€special€arrangement€had€been€devised€to€ease€orŠ Øų Šfacilitate€transition€and€adaptation€from€one€territory€to€another.Š ”ä ŠĢ57.€€Associations€representing€particular€groups€could,€of€course,€be€formed€and€were€encouraged,Š l¼ Ševen€receiving€subsidies€in€many€cases.€€The€general€emphasis€in€Belgium,€given€the€current€trendŠ X Ø Štowards€a€multicultural€society,€was€to€encourage€individual€integration€into€a€community.€€In€moreŠ D!” Šgeneral€terms,€Belgium€would€have€no€problem€in€ratifying€an€international€convention€onŠ 0"€  Šminorities,€especially€since€the€terminology€proposed€referred€to€individuals€belonging€to€minorities.Š #l! ŠĢ58.€€Regarding€the€status€in€Belgium€of€nationals€of€European€Community€countries€as€comparedŠ ō$D # Što€nationals€of€other€States,€that€was€a€matter€determined€by€the€relevant€provisions€of€the€Treaty€ofŠ ą%0!$ ŠRome€and€the€Treaty€of€Maestricht.€€Under€the€former,€the€right€of€workers€to€freedom€of€movementŠ Ģ&"% Šwas€recognized€only€for€nationals€of€the€European€Community,€whereas€the€latter€applied€the€sameŠ ø'#& Šprinciple€regarding€the€right€to€vote€and€to€stand€for€election.€€In€the€representativeššs€view,€suchŠ ¤(ō#' Šdifferential€treatment€did€not€constitute€discrimination€but€rather€was€justified€by€the€need€to€furtherŠ )ą$( Šthe€objective€of€European€integration.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢ59.€€Concerning€political,€social€and€economic€rights,€discrimination€was€now€practically€non„Š T,¤'+ Šexistent.€€Previously,€there€had€been€some€discrimination€regarding€social€security€benefits€againstŠ @-(, ŠMoroccan€and€Turkish€nationals€who€had€lived€in€Belgium€for€most€of€their€lives,€but€now€thatŠ ° Šdiscrepancy€had€been€remedied.€€Aliens€enjoyed€exactly€the€same€rights€as€Belgians€whereŠ œģ Šparticipation€in€trade„union€activities€was€concerned.€€With€respect€to€education,€there€wereŠ ˆŲ Šunfortunately€some€schools€attended€primarily€or€even€exclusively€by€non„Belgians,€as€a€result€ofŠ tÄ Ša€concentration€of€foreign€residents€in€the€areas€concerned.€€Steps€had€been€taken€in€recent€years€toŠ `° Šimprove€the€situation€by€promoting€educational€opportunity€and€improved€teacher€training.€Š L œ ŠAdditionally,€there€was€currently€one€subsidized€Islamic€school,€a€nursery€school,€and€it€wasŠ 8 ˆ Šexpected€that€the€number€would€increase€in€the€future.Š $ t ŠĢ60.€€On€the€subject€of€the€appointment€of€a€Crown€Commissioner€for€Immigration€and€the€creationŠ ü L  Šof€a€national€centre€for€racial€equality,€a€draft€law€had€already€been€through€a€first€reading€and€it€wasŠ č 8  Šhoped€that€the€centre€would€begin€operation€in€1993.€€It€would€be€responsible€for€research€andŠ Ō$  Šdocumentation€and€was€to€provide€advice€and€make€recommendations€to€the€authorities€on€theŠ Ą  Šapplication€of€the€1981€Act€on€the€prevention€of€acts€of€racism€and€xenophobia,€as€well€as€otherŠ ¬ü  Šmeans€of€action€against€all€forms€of€racial€discrimination.€€It€was€to€be€directly€accountable€to€theŠ ˜č  ŠOffice€of€the€Prime€Minister,€to€which€it€would€be€required€to€report€annually,€and€would€also€helpŠ „Ō  Šprepare€the€report€to€the€Committee€on€the€Elimination€of€Racial€Discrimination.Š pĄ ŠĢ61.€€With€regard€to€discrimination€against€asylum„seekers€at€the€border,€frontier€customs€officialsŠ H˜ Šand€law€enforcement€agents€had€no€decision„making€powers:€their€function€was€simply€to€take€noteŠ 4„ Šof€applications€and€to€transmit€them€to€authorities.€€It€was€true€that€complaints€had€been€made€to€theŠ  p ŠGovernment€of€Belgium€of€discriminatory€treatment€by€certain€frontier€officials€and€an€inquiry€wasŠ  \ Šnow€under€way.€€In€the€meantime,€steps€had€been€taken€to€improve€the€training€of€such€officials€soŠ ųH Šthat€their€role€was€more€clearly€defined.€€Between€1988€and€1991,€Zairean€nationals€had€accountedŠ ä4 Šfor€between€8€and€13€per€cent€of€all€asylum„seekers.€€They€were€accorded€the€same€treatment€asŠ Š  Šasylum„seekers€of€other€non„European€Community€States,€but€in€view€of€events€that€had€taken€placeŠ ¼  Šin€Zaire€in€1991„1992,€the€Government€of€Belgium€had€decided€to€suspend€any€removal€measuresŠ Øų Šagainst€Zairean€nationals€pending€clarification€of€the€situation.€€In€1991,€there€had€been€almostŠ ”ä Š14,000€Zairean€nationals€resident€in€Belgium,€representing€only€1.5€per€cent€of€the€total€residentŠ €Š Šforeign€population.Š l¼ ŠĢ62.€€In€regard€to€article€4,€the€intent€of€the€1981€Act€was€not€to€eliminate€but€rather€to€punish€actsŠ D!” Šof€incitement€to€racial€hatred€and€violence.€€The€Act€was€very€broad€in€scope€so€as€to€empower€theŠ 0"€  Šjudiciary€to€deal€with€all€situations€referred€to€it.€€At€the€same€time,€freedom€of€expression€wasŠ #l! Šsacred€in€Belgium€and€was€enshrined€in€the€Constitution€and€great€caution€had€to€be€exercised€inŠ $X" Šallowing€any€derogation€from€that€principle.€€The€Act€thus€contained€stringent€requirements€as€toŠ ō$D # Šproof€of€racist€or€xenophobic€actions€and€stipulated€that€the€actions€in€questions€were€necessarilyŠ ą%0!$ Šcarried€out€in€public.€€A€Senate€proposal€to€amend€the€1981€Act€had€been€introduced€at€the€beginningŠ Ģ&"% Šof€1992,€with€a€view€to€making€it€more€effective€by€imposing€stricter€penalties,€making€the€refusalŠ ø'#& Što€allow€occupation€of€a€dwelling€a€punishable€offence,€including€broader€provisions€for€prosecutionŠ ¤(ō#' Šin€the€event€of€discriminatory€offers€of€services€or€publicity€and€new€provisions€concerning€theŠ )ą$( Šrefusal€to€employ€or€the€decision€to€dismiss€a€person€on€grounds€of€race,€color,€origin,€etc.€€It€shouldŠ |*Ģ%) Šbe€noted€that€in€all€cases€proof€of€racist€intention€must€be€adduced.Š h+ø&* ŠĢ63.€€In€regard€to€associations€manifestly€and€repeatedly€promoting€or€inciting€racial€discrimination,Š @-(, Šproof€of€intention€was€required.€€Legal€proceedings€could€be€brought€against€actual€persons,€asŠ ° Šopposed€to€legal€entities,€the€intent€of€the€legislation€being€to€undermine€the€existence€of€suchŠ œģ Šassociations€through€actions€against€individual€members€guilty€of€racist€acts€or€incitement.€Š ˆŲ ŠAdditionally,€various€racist€and€paramilitary€associations€had€been€dissolved€and€individualsŠ tÄ Šconvicted€under€a€separate€law€dating€back€to€1934.Š `° ŠĢ64.€€With€reference€to€article€14€of€the€Convention,€and€in€particular,€paragraphs€1€and€2€thereof,Š 8 ˆ ŠBelgium€had€shown€its€willingness€to€respond€positively€by€initiating€admittedly€lengthy€proceduresŠ $ t Šfor€incorporating€those€provisions€in€legislation.€€It€was€pointed€out€that€the€European€CommunityŠ  ` Šitself€provided€individuals€with€a€variety€of€remedies€in€the€event€of€grievance,€and€that€complaintsŠ ü L  Šhad€recourse€to€the€European€Commission€on€Human€Rights.Š č 8  ŠĢņņConcluding€observationsŠ Ą  ŠĢóó65.€€The€Committee€noted€with€great€interest€the€major€constitutional€and€legislative€reforms€adoptedŠ ˜č  Šin€Belgium€which€have€introduced€positive€changes€in€relations€between€the€French„speaking€andŠ „Ō  ŠDutch„speaking€communities.€€Nevertheless,€it€requested€Belgium,€in€its€next€periodic€report,€toŠ pĄ Šprovide€further€information€on€the€German„speaking€community€and€other€minorities€with€BelgianŠ \¬ Šnationality.€€In€that€regard,€more€demographic€data€were€needed,€together€with€information€on€theŠ H˜ Šmeasures€and€policies€designed€to€ensure€the€exercise€of€human€rights€by€those€minorities€on€anŠ 4„ Šequal€footing€with€the€majority€communities.Š  p ŠĢ66.€€The€Committee€gave€consideration€to€the€Act€of€30€July€1981€for€the€suppression€of€certain€actsŠ ųH Šbased€on€racism€and€was€of€the€view€that,€while€it€represented€progress€in€the€campaign€to€combatŠ ä4 Šracial€discrimination€in€Belgium,€the€scope€of€the€Act€was€too€limited€and€thus€was€not€complyingŠ Š  Šfully€with€the€provisions€of€article€4€of€the€Convention.€€The€Committee€also€requested€furtherŠ ¼  Šsubstantive€information€on€complaints€lodged€with€the€courts€in€connection€with€the€implementationŠ Øų Šof€the€Act,€and€on€the€existence€of€groups€currently€promoting€racial€discrimination.€Š ”ä ŠĢ67.€€The€Committee€also€accorded€special€attention€to€the€situation€of€aliens€resident€in€Belgium€andŠ l¼ Šasked€for€further€information€on€the€exercise€by€such€persons€of€the€rights€referred€to€in€article€5€ofŠ X Ø Šthe€Convention€on€an€equal€footing€with€Belgian€nationals,€with€special€reference€to€the€employmentŠ D!” Šconditions€of€immigrant€workers,€which€were€of€concern€to€the€Committee.Š 0"€  ŠĢ68.€€The€Committee€hoped€that€the€next€periodic€report€would€be€submitted€in€good€time.Š  $X" Šņ ņCERD€A/52/18€(1997)ó óŠ ° ŠĢĢ210.€€The€Committee€considered€the€ninth€and€tenth€periodic€reports€of€Belgium,€submitted€in€oneŠ tÄ Šdocument€(CERD/C/260/Add.2),€and€adopted€the€following€concluding€observations€at€its€1211ņņthóóŠ `° Šand€1212ņņthóó€meetings€(see€CERD/C/SR.1211€and€1212)€on€20€March€1997.Š L œ ŠĢņņA.€IntroductionóóŠ $ t ŠĢ211.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€ninth€and€tenth€periodic€reports€submitted€by€the€GovernmentŠ ü L  Šof€Belgium€in€one€document€and€the€opportunity€thus€offered€to€continue€its€dialogue€with€the€StateŠ č 8  Šparty.€It€expresses€to€the€Belgian€Government€its€satisfaction€regarding€the€quality€of€the€report,Š Ō$  Šalthough€it€regrets€that€it€was€not€submitted€within€the€time€limit.€It€also€thanks€the€high-levelŠ Ą  Šdelegation€for€the€additional€information€submitted€orally€in€reply€to€the€numerous€questions€askedŠ ¬ü  Šby€members€of€the€Committee€and€considers€its€dialogue€with€the€delegation€to€have€been€fruitfulŠ ˜č  Šand€constructive.€The€Committee€noted€the€desire€of€the€State€party,€as€evidenced€by€the€ongoingŠ „Ō  Šreview€of€the€operation€of€the€police€services€and€judicial€institutions,€to€implement€a€more€activeŠ pĄ Špolicy€for€prosecuting€racial€offences.Š \¬ ŠĢņņB.€Positive€aspectsóóŠ 4„ ŠĢ212.€€The€Committee€noted€with€interest€the€statement€by€the€State€party€to€the€effect€that€-€with€aŠ  \ Šview€to€the€accession€of€Belgium€to€article€14€of€the€Convention€-€steps€have€been€taken€at€theŠ ųH Šfederal€level€and€clarification€has€been€requested€from€the€United€Nations€High€Commissioner€forŠ ä4 ŠHuman€Rights/Centre€for€Human€Rights€concerning€the€procedure€for€implementing€article€14,Š Š  Šparagraph€2.Š ¼  ŠĢ213.€€The€Committee€took€note€with€satisfaction€of€the€institutional€and€statutory€measures€recentlyŠ ”ä Šadopted€by€the€Belgian€authorities€to€combat€racism€and€xenophobia.€It€noted€the€amendments€toŠ €Š Šthe€Act€of€30€July€1981€designed€to€curb€certain€acts€motivated€by€racism€or€xenophobia.€ThoseŠ l¼ Šmeasures€led€to€the€establishment€in€1993€of€the€Centre€for€Equal€Opportunity€and€Action€to€CombatŠ X Ø ŠRacism,€the€primary€function€of€which€is€to€receive€complaints€of€racial€discrimination€and,€ifŠ D!” Šnecessary,€institute€court€proceedings.€In€addition,€the€Act€of€12€April€1994€introduced€changes€toŠ 0"€  Šincrease€penalties€and€extend€the€scope€of€penalties€for€public€expressions€of€intent€to€practice€racialŠ #l! Šdiscrimination,€for€discrimination€in€the€provision€of€goods€or€services€and€for€discrimination€inŠ $X" Šemployment,€with€regard€to€which€the€right€to€institute€proceedings€was€granted€to€workers'€andŠ ō$D # Šemployers'€organizations.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢ214.€€The€Committee€noted€with€satisfaction€the€various€measures€taken€regionally€to€ensure€theŠ ø'#& Šintegration€and€participation€of€foreigners,€in€particular€the€promulgation€of€the€decree€of€4€JulyŠ ¤(ō#' Š1996,€the€purpose€of€which€is€to€approve€and€subsidize€centres€in€the€Walloon€Region€for€theŠ )ą$( Šintegration€of€foreigners€or€persons€of€foreign€origin.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢ215.€€The€Committee€took€note€of€the€penalties€introduced€by€the€Act€of€15€December€1980€asŠ T,¤'+ Šreprisals€against€the€organizers€of€illegal€immigration€networks€and€traffic€in€persons,€particularlyŠ @-(, Šforeigners.Š ° ŠĢ216.€€The€Committee€also€noted€with€great€interest€and€appreciation€the€role€of€the€Centre€for€EqualŠ ˆŲ ŠOpportunity€and€Action€to€Combat€Racism€in€preventing€discrimination€by€considering€complaintsŠ tÄ Šof€acts€of€racial€discrimination,€by€setting€up€training€courses€for€the€police€and€gendarmerie€and€theŠ `° Šjudicial€police€and€by€organizing€information€campaigns€for€foreigners€and€campaigns€to€enhanceŠ L œ Špublic€awareness€of€action€to€combat€racism.€The€Committee€is€also€pleased€to€welcome€theŠ 8 ˆ Šinitiatives€taken€in€the€spheres€of€education€and€information€to€overcome€the€prejudices€which€giveŠ $ t Šrise€to€racial€discrimination.Š  ` ŠĢņņC.€Principal€subjects€of€concernóóŠ č 8  ŠĢ217.€€The€Committee€noted€the€entry€into€force€of€the€Act€of€23€March€1995€prohibiting€the€denial,Š Ą  Šminimization,€justification€or€approval€of€the€genocide€committed€by€the€German€national€socialistŠ ¬ü  Šrgime€during€the€Second€World€War,€thus€filling€a€gap€in€the€law.€Concerns€are,€however,Š ˜č  Šexpressed€that€the€scope€of€that€Act,€which€does€not€refer€to€all€types€of€genocide,€is€too€restricted.Š „Ō  ŠĢ218.€€The€Committee€expressed€serious€concerns€about€case€law€in€Belgium€which€interprets€as€aŠ \¬ Špress€offence€any€written€material€containing€a€criminal€expression€which€is€printed,€reproduced€andŠ H˜ Šdistributed.€It€is€a€matter€for€concern€that€the€Act€of€1981,€amended€in€1994,€and€the€Act€of€1995,Š 4„ Šboth€of€which€tend€to€apply€severer€sanctions€to€acts€inspired€by€racism€and€xenophobia,€are€notŠ  p Šimplemented€in€this€connection.Š  \ ŠĢ219.€€Particular€concern€is€again€expressed€regarding€the€Belgian€Government's€declaration€on€theŠ ä4 Šprovisions€of€article€4€of€the€Convention.€The€Committee€also€noted€with€concern€that€the€State€partyŠ Š  Šhas€not€taken€any€legislative€measures€to€declare€illegal€and€prohibit€organizations€which€incite€toŠ ¼  Šracial€discrimination,€as€article€4€(b)€of€the€Convention€provides.€Strong€concern€was€also€expressedŠ Øų Šat€the€existence€in€the€Flemish€Community€of€a€political€party€with€an€extremist€and€xenophobicŠ ”ä Šideology.Š €Š ŠĢ220.€€Although€Belgium's€legislative€system€tends€to€eliminate€most€provisions€which€restrict€theŠ X Ø Šrights€of€foreigners€and€refugees,€the€Committee€regretted€that,€with€regard€to€article€5€of€theŠ D!” ŠConvention,€the€report€contained€no€information€concerning€the€economic,€social€and€culturalŠ 0"€  Šsituation€of€Belgian€citizens€of€foreign€origin€-€Moroccans,€Turks,€Italians€or€others€-€or€that€ofŠ #l! Špersons€established€in€Belgium€but€not€Belgian€citizens.Š $X" ŠĢ221.€€Concern€was€expressed€at€the€allegation€that€the€Public€Prosecutor's€Department€and€the€policeŠ ą%0!$ Šare€less€zealous€in€the€prosecuting€of€offences€in€cases€where€the€victim€is€not€of€European€origin.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢ222.€€Concern€was€also€expressed€about€article€18€ņņbisóó€of€the€Act€of€15€December€1980,€permittingŠ ¤(ō#' Šthe€limitation€of€the€temporary€or€permanent€residence€of€foreigners€in€certain€communes.Š )ą$( ŠĢ223.€€The€Committee€expressed€regret€at€the€lack€of€detailed€information€on€complaints€of€racist€andŠ h+ø&* Šxenophobic€acts€received€by€the€Centre€for€Equal€Opportunity€and€Action€to€Combat€Racism.Š T,¤'+ ŠFurther€information€was€also€requested€on€the€number€of€complaints€of€racial€discrimination€takenŠ @-(, Što€court,€the€nature€of€such€complaints€and€how€they€were€handled.Š ° ŠĢ224.€€The€Committee€noted€with€regret€that€the€report€submitted€by€the€State€party€made€no€explicitŠ ˆŲ Šreference€to€the€Committee's€conclusions€and€recommendations€following€its€consideration€of€theŠ tÄ Šprevious€report€and€that€it€had€not€been€widely€publicized.Š `° ŠĢņņD.€Suggestions€and€recommendationsóóŠ 8 ˆ ŠĢ225.€€The€Committee€suggests€that€all€necessary€efforts€should€be€made€to€ensure€the€fullŠ  ` Šimplementation€of€the€Convention€in€Belgian€law€and€the€possibility€of€invoking€it€before€the€courts.Š ü L  ŠĢ226.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€Belgian€legislative€system€ensure€greater€consistency€inŠ Ō$  Šformulating€new€laws€and,€in€particular,€that€adjustments€be€made€to€the€Constitution€and€the€lawsŠ Ą  Što€permit€more€effective€criminal€prosecution€of€racist,€negatory€or€discriminatory€writings€as€such.Š ¬ü  ŠThe€Committee€suggests€that€the€Act€of€23€March€1995,€which€prohibits€the€denial,€minimization,Š ˜č  Šjustification€or€approval€of€the€genocide€committed€by€the€German€national€socialist€rgime€duringŠ „Ō  Šthe€Second€World€War,€should€be€broadened€to€cover€the€different€types€of€genocide.€TheŠ pĄ ŠCommittee€recommends€that€the€State€party€include€in€its€next€periodic€report€information€on€theŠ \¬ Šresults€of€putting€into€effect€recently€adopted€legislation,€as€mentioned€above,€and€the€obstaclesŠ H˜ Šencountered€in€so€doing.€The€Committee€is€not€satisfied€with€the€replacement€in€the€Act€of€12€AprilŠ 4„ Š1994€of€the€concept€of€"national€or€ethnic€origin"€by€the€concepts€of€"origin"€or€"nationality"€andŠ  p Šsuggests€an€amendment€in€keeping€with€the€terms€used€in€article€1,€paragraph€1,€of€the€Convention.Š  \ ŠĢ227.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€Belgian€Government€take€the€necessary€legal€steps€toŠ ä4 Šimplement€article€4€(b)€of€the€Convention,€according€to€which€States€parties€shall€declare€illegal€andŠ Š  Šprohibit€organizations€"which€promote€and€incite€racial€discrimination".€The€Committee€alsoŠ ¼  Šrecommends€that€the€State€party€include€in€its€next€report€information€on€complaints€ofŠ Øų Šdiscrimination€under€article€4€of€the€Convention€and€on€how€the€courts€handled€them.Š ”ä ŠĢ228.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€include€in€its€next€report€statistical€data€onŠ l¼ Šthe€ethnic€composition€of€the€Belgian€population,€and€especially€the€percentage€of€Belgian€citizensŠ X Ø Šof€foreign€origin€in€the€country€and€in€the€various€communities,€and€the€number€of€personsŠ D!” Šestablished€in€Belgium€who€are€not€Belgian€citizens.€Detailed€information€on€their€socio-economicŠ 0"€  Šsituation,€particularly€the€unemployment€rate€in€the€various€ethnic€communities,€would€be€muchŠ #l! Šappreciated.Š $X" ŠĢ229.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€Belgian€Government€ensure,€by€means€of€appropriateŠ ą%0!$ Šinformation€and€training,€that€the€judicial€authorities€and€the€police€treat€persons€of€European€andŠ Ģ&"% Šnon-European€origin€in€the€same€way.Š ø'#& ŠĢ230.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€reconsider€article€18€ņņbisóó€of€the€Act€of€15Š )ą$( ŠDecember€1980,€which€appears€to€be€in€breach€of€article€5€(d)€(i)€of€the€Convention.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢ231.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€additional€information€be€provided€on€the€activities€of€theŠ T,¤'+ ŠCentre€for€Equal€Opportunity€and€Action€to€Combat€Racism,€along€with€detailed€information€on€Ō_ŌtheŠ @-(, Šnumber€of€complaints€of€racial€discrimination€filed€with€the€courts,€the€results€of€proceedingsŠ ° Šinstituted€in€cases€of€racial€discrimination€and€the€compensation€granted,€where€appropriate,€to€theŠ œģ Švictims€of€that€discrimination.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ232.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€Belgian€Government€take€account,€in€preparing€its€nextŠ `° Šreport,€of€these€conclusions€and€recommendations€of€the€Committee.€It€suggests€that€the€State€partyŠ L œ Šensure€that€the€report€and€these€conclusions€are€widely€distributed€to€the€public€in€the€variousŠ 8 ˆ Šlanguages€used€in€Belgium.Š $ t ŠĢ233.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€ratify€the€amendment€to€article€8,€paragraphŠ ü L  Š6,€of€the€Convention,€adopted€on€15€January€1992€at€the€Fourteenth€Meeting€of€States€Parties€to€theŠ č 8  ŠConvention.Š Ō$  ŠĢ234.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party's€next€periodic€report€should€be€an€update€ofŠ ¬ü  Šthe€last€report€and€that€it€should€address€all€the€points€raised€during€the€consideration€of€the€report.Š ˜č  ŠĢĢĢĢĢÓÓŠ   p Šņ ņŌ_ŌCERDŌ_Ō€€A/57/18€(2002)ó óŠ ° ŠĢÓ  Ó38.€€The€Committee€considered€the€eleventh,€twelfth€and€thirteenth€periodic€reports€of€BelgiumŠ ˆŲ Š(Ō_ŌCERDŌ_Ō/C/381/Add.1),€which€were€due€on€6€September€1996,€1998€and€2000€respectively,€at€itsŠ tÄ Š1509th€and€1510th€meetings,€held€on€13€and€14€March€2002€(Ō_ŌCERDŌ_Ō/C/SR.1509€and€1510).€€At€itsŠ `° Š1520th€meeting€(Ō_ŌCERDŌ_Ō/C/SR.1520),€held€on21March2002,€it€adopted€the€following€concludingŠ L œ Šobservations.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢA.€€ņņIntroductionóóŠ  ` ŠĢ39.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€detailed€reports€submitted€by€the€State€party,€while€regretting€theŠ č 8  Šlate€submission€of€the€eleventh€and€twelfth€periodic€reports.€€The€Committee€was€encouraged€by€theŠ Ō$  Šattendance€of€a€delegation€composed€of€representatives€of€many€government€departments€at€theŠ Ą  Šfederal,€community€and€regional€levels,€and€expresses€its€appreciation€for€the€constructive€oralŠ ¬ü  Šresponses€of€the€delegation€to€the€questions€asked.Š ˜č  ŠĢB.€€ņņPositive€aspectsóóŠ pĄ ŠĢ40.€€The€Committee€welcomes€recent€developments€that€have€taken€place€in€the€State€party€in€theŠ H˜ Šfield€of€human€rights.€€It€notes,€in€particular€the€enactment€of€new€laws€and€the€ratification€of€aŠ 4„ Šnumber€of€international€treaties,€such€as€the€Convention€against€Torture€and€other€Cruel,€InhumanŠ  p Šor€Degrading€Treatment€or€Punishment,€the€Optional€Protocol€to€the€Convention€on€the€Rights€ofŠ  \ Šthe€Child€on€the€sale€of€children,€child€prostitution€and€child€pornography€and€the€Rome€Statute€ofŠ ųH Šthe€International€Criminal€Court.Š ä4 ŠĢ41.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€declaration€made€by€the€State€party€under€article€14€of€theŠ ¼  ŠConvention.Š Øų ŠĢ42.€€With€regard€to€article€4€of€the€Convention€the€Committee€notes€with€appreciation€the€StateŠ €Š Špartyššs€efforts€in€the€field€of€legislative€reform,€especially€the€amendment€to€article150€of€theŠ l¼ ŠConstitution,€which€transfers€jurisdiction€over€acts€motivated€by€racism€and€xenophobia€committedŠ X Ø Šthrough€the€media€to€lower€instance€criminal€courts.€€It€also€welcomes€the€imposition€of€financialŠ D!” Šsanctions€on€anti„democratic€political€parties€that€disseminate€racism€and€xenophobia.Š 0"€  ŠĢ43.€€The€Committee€notes€with€appreciation€the€work€of€the€Ō_ŌCentreŌ_Ō€for€Equal€Opportunity€and€theŠ $X" ŠStruggle€against€Racism,€and€in€particular€the€agreement€reached€between€the€postal€authorities€andŠ ō$D # Šthe€Ō_ŌCentreŌ_Ō€with€a€view€to€preventing€the€distribution€of€material€containing€racist€propaganda€andŠ ą%0!$ Šxenophobic€statements.Š Ģ&"% ŠĢ44.€€The€Committee€notes€measures€taken€by€the€State€party€to€counter€the€dissemination€of€racistŠ ¤(ō#' Šstatements€on€the€Internet.Š )ą$( ŠĢ45.€€The€Committee€welcomes€the€measures€taken€by€the€State€party€to€raise€awareness€of€racismŠ h+ø&* Šand€racial€discrimination,€in€particular€in€the€army€and€among€criminal€justice€officials.€€It€alsoŠ T,¤'+ Šwelcomes€the€measures€taken€to€limit€the€information€given€by€the€judicial€and€police€authorities€toŠ @-(, Šthe€press€regarding€the€ethnic€origin€and€the€nationality€of€the€alleged€offenders.Š ° ŠĢ46.€€The€Committee€also€welcomes€the€election€of€a€body€representing€the€Muslim€communities€withŠ ˆŲ Ša€view€to€maintaining€and€developing€dialogue€with€the€public€authorities€in€Belgium.Š tÄ ŠĢ47.€€With€regard€to€article€5€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€takes€note€of€measures€in€FlandersŠ L œ Šforbidding€discrimination,€including€on€racial€or€ethnic€grounds,€in€collective€Ō_ŌlabourŌ_Ō€agreements,€andŠ 8 ˆ Šof€measures€facilitating€the€education€of€migrant€children.€€The€Committee€also€takes€note€ofŠ $ t Šmeasures€in€the€Walloon€region€for€the€education€of€children€of€illegal€migrants€and€for€the€studyŠ  ` Šby€migrant€children€of€their€mother€tongue€on€the€basis€of€bilateral€agreements€with€their€countryŠ ü L  Šof€origin.Š č 8  ŠĢC.€€ņņConcerns€and€recommendationsóóŠ Ą  ŠĢ48.€€The€Committee€notes€that€the€primacy€of€the€provisions€of€the€Convention€over€internal€lawsŠ ˜č  Šdepends€on€the€evaluation€by€the€judge€as€to€whether€such€provisions€are€directly€applicable.€€ItŠ „Ō  Šrecommends€that€the€State€party€include€in€its€next€periodic€report€specific€information€on€the€statusŠ pĄ Šof€the€Convention€in€domestic€law€and€on€court€cases,€if€any,€in€which€the€Convention€was€invoked.Š \¬ ŠĢ49.€€The€Committee€notes€that€a€draft€general€law€on€racial€discrimination€is€under€consideration€byŠ 4„ Šthe€Parliament€and€encourages€the€State€party€to€adopt€it€as€soon€as€possible.Š  p ŠĢ50.€€The€Committee€notes€that€no€reference€is€made€in€the€report€to€article€3€of€the€Convention.€€TheŠ ųH ŠCommittee€recommends€that€the€State€party€provide€in€its€next€periodic€report€relevant€informationŠ ä4 Šon€any€trend€towards€segregation€of€communities,€especially€in€large€cities,€and€measures€taken€byŠ Š  Šthe€authorities€to€prevent€such€developments.Š ¼  ŠĢ51.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€that€there€is€no€legislation€prohibiting€racist€organizations€andŠ ”ä Špropaganda€activities.€€It€is€also€concerned€about€the€increasing€influence€of€xenophobic€ideologyŠ €Š Šon€political€parties,€especially€in€Flanders.€€In€this€context,€the€Committee€requests€the€State€partyŠ l¼ Što€give€more€information€on€the€application€of€the€1998€law€on€withdrawing€financial€support€toŠ X Ø Špolitical€parties€that€incite€racism€or€racial€hostility,€or€disseminate€racial€propaganda.€€Taking€intoŠ D!” Šaccount€the€mandatory€nature€of€article€4€of€the€Convention,€the€Committee€also€recommends€thatŠ 0"€  Šthe€State€party€enact€legislation€that€declares€illegal€and€prohibits€any€organization€which€promotesŠ #l! Šor€incites€to€racism€and€racial€discrimination€and€consider€withdrawing€its€reservation€to€this€article.€Š $X" ŠIn€this€context,€the€Committee€draws€the€attention€of€the€State€party€to€its€general€recommendationŠ ō$D # ŠXV.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢ52.€€The€Committee€expresses€concern€about€reports€according€to€which€the€legal€provisionsŠ ø'#& Šdesigned€to€prosecute€and€punish€acts€of€racism€and€racial€discrimination€are€not€applied.€€It€alsoŠ ¤(ō#' Šexpresses€concern€at€the€length€of€procedures€for€the€investigation€of€complaints€by€victims€of€racialŠ )ą$( Šdiscrimination.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€ensure€that€all€acts€of€racism€andŠ |*Ģ%) Šracial€discrimination€are€investigated€and€that€the€alleged€perpetrators,€if€found€guilty,€be€punished.Š h+ø&* ŠĢ53.€€Concern€was€also€expressed€about€several€cases€of€racist€incidents€in€police€stations€involvingŠ @-(, Šlaw€enforcement€officials,€where€the€victims€were€immigrants€and€asylum„seekers.€€The€CommitteeŠ ° Šis€also€concerned€about€reports€that€children€belonging€to€ethnic€minority€groups€have€experiencedŠ œģ Šverbal€violence.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€all€necessary€measures€toŠ ˆŲ Šprosecute€racially€motivated€acts€of€violence€by€law€enforcement€officials€and€to€prevent€such€verbalŠ tÄ Šoffences€against€members€of€minority€groups,€and€continue€its€efforts€to€promote€Ō_ŌinterculturalŌ_ŌŠ `° Štolerance,€understanding€and€respect.Š L œ ŠĢ54.€€With€regard€to€the€amendment€to€article€150€of€the€Constitution,€the€Committee€requests€theŠ $ t ŠState€party€to€provide€detailed€information€in€its€next€periodic€report€on€the€number€of€cases€broughtŠ  ` Šbefore€the€Belgian€courts€and€the€decisions€taken€with€regard€to€acts€of€racism,€racial€discriminationŠ ü L  Šor€incitement€to€racial€hostility,€in€which€the€media,€especially€the€press,€were€involved.Š č 8  ŠĢ55.€€The€Committee€is€concerned€about€the€difficulties€of€access€to€employment€and€housing€ofŠ Ą  Šmembers€of€ethnic€minorities.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€all€necessaryŠ ¬ü  Šmeasures€to€facilitate€the€occupational€integration,€in€both€the€public€and€private€sectors,€and€theŠ ˜č  Šaccess€to€housing,€of€persons€belonging€to€ethnic€minorities.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€theŠ „Ō  ŠState€party€provide€in€its€next€periodic€report€information€on€the€situation€in€all€regions€of€the€StateŠ pĄ Šparty,€including€on€complaints€of€racial€discrimination€and€on€redress,€if€any,€provided€to€theŠ \¬ Švictims.Š H˜ ŠĢ56.€€While€noting€the€positive€efforts€undertaken€by€the€State€party€in€the€field€of€education€againstŠ  p Šracial€discrimination,€the€Committee€expresses€concern€about€the€absence€or€insufficiency€ofŠ  \ Šeducational€measures€for€some€professional€groups,€such€as€judges,€prosecutors,€lawyers€and€civilŠ ųH Šservants.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€give€full€effect€to€the€provisions€of€articleŠ ä4 Š7€of€the€Convention€by€adopting€effective€measures,€particularly€in€the€fields€of€education€andŠ Š  Štraining,€in€order€to€prevent€racial€discrimination.Š ¼  ŠĢ57.€€While€noting€the€satisfactory€measures€taken€in€the€State€party,€especially€by€the€Ō_ŌCentreŌ_ŌforŠ ”ä ŠEqual€Opportunity€and€the€Struggle€against€Racism,€following€the€events€of11September2001€inŠ €Š Šthe€United€States,€in€order€to€promote€tolerance€between€religious€communities,€the€CommitteeŠ l¼ Šregrets€occurrences€of€racial€acts€against€persons€belonging€to€ethnic€minorities,€especially€those€ofŠ X Ø Šthe€Muslim€faith.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€include€in€its€next€periodic€reportŠ D!” Šdetailed€information€on€the€development€of€the€situation€and€measures€taken€in€this€field.Š 0"€  ŠĢ58.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€include€in€its€next€periodic€report€detailedŠ $X" Šinformation€on€the€work€of€the€Ō_ŌCentreŌ_Ō,€the€number€of€complaints€received,€as€well€as€the€outcomeŠ ō$D # Šof€cases€brought€before€the€courts.Š ą%0!$ ŠĢ59.€€Noting€the€responsibility€of€the€Federal€State€for€the€implementation€of€the€Convention,€theŠ ø'#& ŠCommittee€recommends€that€the€State€party€provide€in€its€next€periodic€report€detailed€informationŠ ¤(ō#' Šon€the€demographic€composition€of€the€population€and€Ō_ŌsocioŌ_Ō„economic€data€Ō_ŌdisaggregatedŌ_Ō€by€genderŠ )ą$( Šand€national€and€ethnic€group€for€all€its€regions€and€communities.Š |*Ģ%) ŠĢ60.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€take€into€account€the€relevant€parts€of€theŠ T,¤'+ ŠDurban€Declaration€and€Ō_ŌProgrammeŌ_Ō€of€Action€when€implementing€the€Convention€in€the€domesticŠ @-(, Šlegal€order,€in€particular€in€respect€of€articles€2€to€7€of€the€Convention,€and€that€it€include€in€its€nextŠ ° Šperiodic€report€information€on€action€plans€or€other€measures€taken€to€implement€the€DurbanŠ œģ ŠDeclaration€and€Ō_ŌProgrammeŌ_Ō€of€Action€at€national€level.Š ˆŲ ŠĢ61.€€The€Committee€reiterates€its€appeal€to€the€State€party€to€ratify€the€amendments€to€article8,Š `° Šparagraph€6,€of€the€Convention,€adopted€on€15€January€1992€at€the€Fourteenth€Meetingof€StatesŠ L œ ŠParties€to€the€Convention€and€endorsed€by€the€General€Assembly€in€its€resolution€47/111.Š 8 ˆ ŠĢ62.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€partyššs€reports€be€made€readily€available€to€the€publicŠ  ` Šfrom€the€time€they€are€submitted€and€that€the€Committeeššs€concluding€observations€on€them€beŠ ü L  Šsimilarly€publicized.Š č 8  ŠĢ63.€€The€Committee€recommends€that€the€State€party€submit€its€fourteenth€periodic€report€jointlyŠ Ą  Šwith€its€fifteenth€periodic€report,€due€on€6€September€2004,€that€it€be€an€updating€report,€and€that€itŠ ¬ü  Šaddress€the€points€raised€in€the€present€concluding€observations.ą Č ąŠ ˜č  Š