Newsroom

July 30 marks the International Day against Human Trafficking, a global phenomenon that concerns every country in the world, including Belgium. Human trafficking can take many forms, such as sexual or economic exploitation, and even involve the sale of organs. However, it always bereaves victims of their human dignity and places them in unbearable, humiliating and degrading situations.

At the Global Education Summit on July 28 and 29 in London, with the theme "Raise your hand," Minister of Development Cooperation and Major Cities Policy Meryame Kitir announced a Belgian contribution to the 2021-2025 work plan of Global Partnership for Education. GPE is an international fund that promotes universal access to education for both girls and boys and is currently active in some 90 countries.

Belgium has decided to provide emergency assistance to Tunisia, following a request transmitted by this country through the European Mechanism of Civil Protection, in the context of the fight against COVID-19. Tunisia is currently facing a serious deterioration of its health situation and a sharp increase in hospitalizations. The country has informed its European partners of specific needs to help it cope with this situation, including in terms of vaccines. The vaccination rate remains very low in the country and the authorities are trying to accelerate the vaccination campaign.

We, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Ukraine, whose countries comprise the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), today mark the seventh anniversary of the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, resulting in the tragic deaths of 298 passengers and crew members. Our thoughts remain with those who perished on board, their families and loved ones.

Belgium has decided to provide emergency assistance to Namibia, following a request transmitted by this country through the European Mechanism for Civil Protection, in the context of the fight against COVID-19. In recent weeks, Namibia has been facing a serious deterioration of its health situation and an increase in hospitalizations. This situation is leading to an important need for protective equipment.

In 1995, an ambitious agreement was reached on twelve domains for action to promote the rights of women and girls - the "Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action". Since then, many initiatives and concrete policy measures have been taken to implement the Platform for Action. Over the years, Belgium has been actively working, both domestically and internationally, to promote gender equality.

The thirtieth Plenary Meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was held in Brussels, under Belgian chairmanship, from 22 to 25 June 2021. The NSG is a multilateral regime aimed at preventing nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.

Minister of Development Cooperation Meryame Kitir is going to Geneva from June 28 to 30. She will meet with several multilateral partner organizations active in the fields of human rights, health, humanitarian aid and migration. Itclude meetings with the Director-General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, the Director-General of ILO, Guy Ryder, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Winnie Byanyima, the Director-General of IOM, Antonio Vitorino, and the CEO of GAVI (Vaccine Alliance), Seth Berkley. Minister Kitir will take this opportunity to announce Belgian funding for multilateral partner organizations for the period 2021-2024.

This Thursday, June 24, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo will meet, together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sophie Wilmès, Minister of Development Cooperation Meryame Kitir and Minister of Climate, Environment and Sustainable Development Zakia Khattabi, with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Since June 25, 2020, Belgium has held the annual chairmanship of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). The Nuclear Suppliers Group is a multilateral regime aimed at preventing nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.