Newsroom

Children's rights are one of the priorities of Belgian foreign policy on human rights. For decades, our country has been committed to promoting children's rights internationally.

The 76th session of the UN General Assembly will open in New York on 20 September, under the theme "Building Resilience through hope to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalise the United Nations."

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.

Today, February 22, the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council started in Geneva and will continue until March 23. On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sophie addressed the ministerial part of the session. She presented the priorities of the Belgian government and shared some reflections on the current challenges in the field of human rights.

September 21 marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations. Belgium is a founding member of the UN and the very first President of the General Assembly was Belgian Foreign Minister Paul-Henri Spaak. Faced with the challenges of our time, Belgium remains more than ever convinced of the importance of the role of the UN and multilateralism in the search for effective and harmonious solutions fostering peace and sustainable development. This commitment is also demonstrated by its mandate in the Security Council, where Belgium was elected for the 6th time.

Today is the International Day of UN Peacekeepers. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense Philippe Goffin wishes to pay tribute to the more than 95,000 men and women who serve with dedication under the flag of the United Nations in the thirteen peacekeeping operations deployed around the world.

Statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs Philippe Goffin on the 20th anniversary of two Protocols to the UN Children's Rights Convention, May 25, 2020.

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.