Concerns grow over Belgium's human rights violations
- Human Rights Research Center
- Apr 17
- 3 min read
Author: Peter Clarkin, MA
April 17, 2025
HRRC strongly condemns the Belgium government’s neglect of asylum seekers within their own country. Many are left to sleep on the streets as they are denied access to shelter, healthcare and legal assistance, and this situation must be improved as a matter of urgency.
![Asylum seekers sleep on a street in central Brussels, Belgium. [Image credit: Reuters/Yves Herman]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e28a6b_be81767c04574cec9405d2d0ee40f2db~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_960,h_622,al_c,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/e28a6b_be81767c04574cec9405d2d0ee40f2db~mv2.png)
At a time when the stability of the world is continually being undermined, the safety of asylum seekers becomes even more paramount. Since Belgium elected a right-wing prime minister in February of this year, those who have arrived in the country have found a government unwilling to provide any support or assistance, and, as a result, find themselves discarded onto the streets.
This month, a report was published claiming that the Belgian government was responsible for violations of human rights with regards to those seeking asylum. Accusations of neglect have been tabled as many of those seeking asylum are denied healthcare, shelter, and access to legal counsel.
It has been stated that the neglect has mostly been directed towards single men and has been the reason why so many of them end up without a home. The Belgian government has been issued 12,000 court orders demanding they provide some form of housing for the asylum seekers, but this is something they continue to ignore.
As evidenced in 2023, the government refused to give shelter to single male asylum seekers, stating that their focus was on providing housing for women and children. Critics suggested this was a deflection tactic used by the government because they were ill-prepared to provide shelter for everybody. This lack of preparation led to many men being condemned to a life on the streets.
The newly elected conservative regime has been vocal in expressing the need to introduce Belgium’s strongest ever policies in relation to migration. These policies are beginning to have a real and sudden impact as the government has already decided to discontinue their resettlement programme. This initiative was the only legal and safe way that refugees could be brought to the country. It was set up in 2013 in conjunction with the United Nations resulting in over 5,000 asylum seekers arriving in the country.
A fear of deportation remains a very real possibility for a number of asylum seekers, and more needs to be done to provide a safe environment for as many of them as possible. A life on the streets, with no support from the government cannot be seen as resembling any sort of asylum, and improvements must be made.
Glossary
Accusations- saying that someone did something wrong or illegal.
Asylum seekers- people who flee their home country and ask another country for protection because they fear danger or persecution.
Condemned- strongly said that something or someone is bad or wrong.
In conjunction with - at the same time as.
Critics -people who express disapproval or point out problems with something.
Deportation- the act of forcing someone to leave a country.
Deflection tactic- a way of shifting attention away from a problem or criticism by changing the subject or blaming something else.
Discarded- thrown away or no longer wanted or used.
Initiative -a new plan or action meant to solve a problem or improve a situation.
Legal counsel- advice or help from a lawyer about legal matters.
Migration- the movement of people or animals from one place to another.
Neglect- failure to care for or pay attention to something or someone that needs help.
Paramount- most important; top priority.
Regime- a government, especially one that is strict or controlling
Resettlement- moving people to a new place to live, often because they had to leave their old home.
Violation- breaking a rule, law, or agreement.
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