Fewer racism convictions in Belgium

In the past five years, the number of convictions for racism and xenophobia in Belgium has decreased significantly, according to figures from the criminal policy department of the FPS Justice. Between 2010 and 2015, racism and xenophobia convictions in Belgium – based on the anti-racism law of 1981 – fell from 49 to 19, write De Standaard, Gazet van Antwerpen and Het Nieuwsblad on Monday.

The decline is a sign that discriminatory acts are being taken more seriously, according to legal anthropologist Jogchum Vrielink law of KU Leuven: “Most of the convictions in the past were about insults with racist overtones. The anti-racism law was never intended for such cases. It is intended to prosecute the perpetrators of incitement to hatred and violence, who have the intention to act upon it.”