A Brussels court ruled that five women, taken from their families during Belgian colonial rule in Congo, are entitled to reparations for their suffering.
Five Women Achieve Landmark Reparations from Belgium for Colonial Atrocities
Five Women Achieve Landmark Reparations from Belgium for Colonial Atrocities
Belgium's court acknowledges crimes against humanity in a groundbreaking decision for mixed-race women.
In a significant judgement, a Brussels court has declared that five mixed-race women, now aged in their 70s and 80s, are to receive reparations from the Belgian government for the grave injustices they endured during the colonial regime in the Belgian Congo. These women were forcibly removed from their families as young as two years old by Belgian authorities, who placed them in remote Catholic institutions, severing their ties to their African mothers and cultural identities.
The court ruled that Belgium's actions constituted a crime against humanity and described the treatment these women faced as a horrific act of persecution, resulting in immense suffering. Each of the plaintiffs will receive €50,000 (approximately $52,000) as compensation for their trauma.
The harsh policies that led to such separations were employed from the late 19th century until the Congo's independence in 1960, wherein thousands of mixed-race children were taken from their families due to racial discrimination stemming from colonial laws prohibiting relationships between Europeans and Africans. Many of these children faced difficult upbringings characterized by neglect and maltreatment.
Monique Bitu Bingi, one of the victorious appellants, expressed her relief and underscored the significance of the ruling. At 75 years old, Bitu Bingi stated, "This decision is a relief not just for us who were taken but also for our Congolese mothers." She emphasized her determination to communicate the historical injustices inflicted upon her and her peers, highlighting the profound loss of their youth as a consequence of these governmental actions.
Through this ruling, the court acknowledges a painful chapter in Belgium's colonial history, recognizing the long-lasting effects such policies have had on the victims, marking a crucial step toward addressing historical wrongs and fostering healing.
