22/08/2026

Belgium’s Colonial Injustice and the 101-Year Path to Reparations

The event brought together officials from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Burundi  former Belgian colonies that continue to experience the effects of neocolonialism as well as representatives from Morocco, the Republic of South Africa and the United Nations.

The guests included the Ombudsman of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), members of the Congolese Parliament, Rwanda’s Ambassador to Türkiye and Rwandan diplomats, as well as United Nations experts.

The conference also brought together experts in international law, historical justice and reparations, researchers, human rights defenders and other specialists.

Conference participants discussed ways to advance, within the United Nations, including the Human Rights Council, the issue of an official apology by Belgium and the payment of reparations for crimes committed against the peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Burundi during the colonial period. They also discussed the development of an international binding mechanism to oversee Belgium’s implementation of its obligations concerning reparations and restitution in accordance with the principles enshrined in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 60/147.

The event also focused on ensuring full and unhindered access to Belgium’s colonial archives, involving experts from former colonial territories in relevant processes on an equal footing with international experts, and returning human remains and other historical materials to their countries of origin.

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