Historic Ruling: Belgian Court Grants Reparations to Women for Colonial Abuses

In a momentous ruling, a Brussels court declared that five women who endured severe hardships under Belgium's colonial rule in the Congo are entitled to reparations for the suffering they experienced.

On December 2, 2024, a Brussels court mandated the Belgian state to pay reparations to five mixed-race women, now in their 70s and 80s, for the traumas they suffered as children under colonial governance in the Belgian Congo. The women, who were taken from their African mothers and European fathers at a young age, were placed in religious institutions hundreds of miles from their homes, where they confronted poverty, malnutrition, and abuse. This forced separation occurred during a dark chapter in history that extended from the late 19th century until after Congo's independence in 1960.

The court's ruling acknowledged these actions as a crime against humanity, resulting in an ordered compensation of 50,000 euros (approximately $52,000) to each of the plaintiffs. In its judgment, the Brussels Court of Appeal recognized the profound impact of their forced removal, stating, “There is no doubt for the court that the appellants have experienced great suffering since, and as a result of, their kidnapping before the age of 7 by the state.”

From 1908 until 1960, Belgian authorities enforced strict segregation laws that prohibited interracial relationships, leading to the systematic removal of countless children from their families. Many of these children were then sent to Catholic schools in Congo or, in lesser numbers, to Belgium.

Monique Bitu Bingi, one of the appellants, expressed her relief following the court's decision. At the age of 75, she lauded the ruling as a triumph not only for herself and her fellow plaintiffs but also for their Congolese mothers who endured the pain of losing their children. “The Belgian government took my youth away, and it was something I had to fight for, to explain to the world what happened,” she stated. This pivotal ruling serves as a crucial recognition of the long-lasting effects of colonial policies and the need for justice for victims of past abuses.