Anti-Discrimination Law in Belgium
What Is This Law About?
Belgium’s Anti-Discrimination Law is designed to protect people from unfair treatment based on certain personal characteristics. The law ensures everyone has equal opportunities in areas like employment, education, housing, and access to goods and services.
Key Provisions of the Law
1. Protected Characteristics – The law prohibits discrimination based on:
- Race, skin colour, or ethnic background
- Age
- Disability
- Sexual orientation
- Gender or gender identity
- Religion or beliefs
- Health status (e.g., HIV status)
2. Areas Covered – The law applies to:
- Jobs (hiring, promotions, workplace treatment)
- Schools and training programs
- Housing (renting or buying property)
- Access to public services and businesses
3. Forms of Discrimination – The law bans:
- Direct discrimination (treating someone worse because of who they are)
- Indirect discrimination (rules that seem neutral but disadvantage certain groups)
- Harassment (unwanted behaviour related to a protected characteristic)
- Retaliation (punishing someone for reporting discrimination)
4. Reasonable Accommodations – Employers and service providers must make adjustments for people with disabilities, unless it causes a major burden.
Important Dates
- The law was last updated on 2007 May 10
- Businesses and organisations were expected to comply with the law immediately upon its enactment.
Based on the Official Document
This explanation is a simplified summary of Belgium’s Anti-Discrimination Law. For full details, refer to the official legal text here:
http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi_loi/change_lg.pl?language=fr&la=F&cn=2007051035&table_name=loi