On December 2, 2024, a court in Brussels determined that five women, now in their 70s and 80s, who were forcibly removed from their parents in the former Belgian Congo, were entitled to reparations from the Belgian state. This decision arose from the women's claims that they were kidnapped as children by the Belgian authorities, sent to Catholic-run schools, and subsequently endured poverty, malnutrition, and abuse throughout their formative years. The Belgian colonial policy, which lasted from the late 19th century until after the Congo gained independence in 1960, enforced strict racial barriers, leading to the systematic removal of thousands of children from their families.
Five Women Awarded Reparations by Belgian Court for Colonial Abuses
Five Women Awarded Reparations by Belgian Court for Colonial Abuses
In a significant legal ruling, a Brussels court has identified five mixed-race women as victims of Belgian colonial injustices in the Congo, granting them reparations for their suffering.
The Brussels Court of Appeal described the actions of the Belgian state as an inhumane act and a prolonged crime against humanity, awarding each of the five women a compensation of 50,000 euros (approximately $52,000). Monique Bitu Bingi, one of the appellants, expressed her relief and emphasized that the ruling was a landmark acknowledgment of the suffering experienced not only by her and the other women but also by their Congolese mothers. She stated, “The Belgian government took my youth away, and it was something I had to fight for, to explain to the world what happened.”
This case marks a notable recognition of Belgium's colonial past, reflecting a growing movement within European nations to confront and address historical injustices.
This case marks a notable recognition of Belgium's colonial past, reflecting a growing movement within European nations to confront and address historical injustices.
