Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs

Thanks to the Kimberley Process, 98.8 percent of all rough diamonds traded worldwide are reportedly conflict-free today. Yet that percentage could still be improved. Belgium - diamond country par excellence - has taken a leading role.

During its two-year membership (2019-2020) of the UN Security Council, Belgium attaches great importance to ‘children and armed conflict’. The theme also occupies a central position during the Belgian presidency of the Security Council (February 2020).

Today, the United Nations Security Council is holding a debate on transitional justice. Belgium, which presides over the Security Council this month, is putting it on the agenda. Through this action, our country wants to step up the fight against impunity, with the ultimate goal of social reconciliation.

Belgium is putting the issue of children in armed conflict on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council, which our country presides over this month. February 12 is the “International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers”, and our country will use that symbolic day to issue a call to action. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense Philippe Goffin will chair the briefing at the UNSC on integrating child protection measures into peace processes. King Filip will address the UNSC on behalf of our country.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense Philippe Goffin is on his way to New York as part of the Belgian Presidency of the UN Security Council. The four-day visit will be intense, as it is full of encounters and meetings. On Tuesday and Wednesday (11-12/2) he will also participate in several activities with the King and Queen.

On February 1, 2020, Belgium will take over the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council for one month. Our country has been a member of the Security Council since January 1, 2019 for a period of two years. During its presidency, Belgium will put several topics on the Council's agenda, such as the issue of children in armed conflict, Transitional Justice and the importance of European cooperation within the Council.

This Thursday, 30 January 2020 - the first World Day for the Fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases - the Democratic Republic of Congo is celebrating its 3rd National Day for the Fight against Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness. "Belgium fully supports the eradication of sleeping sickness in DRC", says Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo. Together with Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès, he will visit DRC next week, where attention will also be paid to the eradication of the sleeping sickness.

In 2020, the international community puts the spotlight on plant health, as healthy plants form the basis of our food, our oxygen, a thriving nature and a large part of our economy.