Zentrum für Chancengleichheit und Rassismusbekämpfung Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism Centre pour l’égalité des chances et la lutte contre le racisme Centrum voor gelijkheid van kansen en voor racismebestrijding

Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism An autonomous public service:  established by an Act of Parliament on February 15, 1993 with the responsibility  to promote equal opportunities  to fight each form of distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference.

Expanded competences 1995Law on historical revisionism (negationism) 1995Fight against human trafficking 1998Fight against poverty and precarious living conditions 2003General antidiscrimination act 2003Observatory for migrations 2007New antidiscrimination acts

Four objectives Objective 1: “Each victim of racism, discrimination, disrespect of one’s rights as a foreigner,… will receive a response as soon as possible, and if feasible a solution that is suited for him or her and for society in general”

Four objectives Objective 2: “Each request for information, guidance or training,… of an individual person, a company, an organization or an institution, will receive a suitable reply as soon as possible (information, guidance, training,…) so that solutions may be found”

Four objectives Objective 3: “On its own initiative or by government request the Centre will formulate policy advice to achieve solutions for societal problems”

Four objectives Objective 4: “Contributing to knowledge and understanding of one’s rights and duties, diversity, respect,… through specific documentation, information sensitization,… the broad public knows and understands its rights and duties, is familiar with such concepts as diversity and respect, knows and appreciates what the Centre does.”

Organization chart of the Centre Accountancy IT Logistics Internal management Integration Racism Racism and integration Non-racial discrim. + training/document. Non-racial discrim. Training Documentation Human trafficking Observatory Migrations Poverty support Supervising council Board of directors Management CommunicationsGeneral secretariat Legal advisorHuman resources

DEPARTMENTS RACIAL AND NON – RACIAL DISCRIMINATIONS  RACIAL DISCRIMINATION: Based on “so-called” race”, skin color, heritage or national or ethnic origin  NON-RACIAL DISCRIMINATION: Based on sexual orientation, marital state, birth, age, fortune, present or future health condition, ability, physical or genetic trait, religion or life-philosophy, political conviction, language, social origin + (membership of union)

1) SOLUTIONS FOR VICTIMS OF RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION  Respect en recognition  Giving and receiving information  Advice and legal support  Protection and privacy  Rectification  Help

Complaints reach us  By phone, fax, mail or through our website  Consultation at the Centre, every Thursday morning  Consultation at our local focal points in Brussels Antwerp, Ghent, Hasselt, Mechelen, Leuvain, Bruges Liège, Charleroi, La Louvière, Namur, Mons, Verviers, Nivelles  Through our networks Public services, social partners, and NGO’s that stand up for the rights of victims of discrimination in their domain (racism, disability, sexual orientation, age,…)

Type of interventions  We give information and advice  We refer you to the proper services  We set up mediation between the victim and the counter party  We undertake legal steps when necessary  Legal proceedings in a number of serious or clear cut cases  Development of jurisprudence and comprehensive case law reference material concerning racism, revisionism and discrimination

Treatment of the complaints

2) SOLUTIONS FOR COMPANIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND …  Information  Training  Suitable advice  Support and guidance

Examples of information

TRAINING  Preventive and pragmatic approach  Modules: cultural identity, intercultural communication, management diversity, conflict management, …  Ranging from strictly legal information to active modules, which provide ample room for the experiences of participants  For wide range of groups, including the police, judicial staff, teachers, local government, employers & employees, social workers, prison warders,..

3)POLICY ADVICE THAT CONTRIBUTES TO SOLUTIONS  Belgium:  Inter-ministerial conferences;  Federal 10-points-plan to fight racism  Work, education, housing, …  European:  EUMC-Vienna  National Contact Point Integration  EQUINET  Council of Europe: ECRI  International:  OVSE, racism en anti-Semitism  UN: Durban-conference

Based on studies and research Violence towards gays Survey on external signs of belief Discrimination of gays in work- environments Instruments to monitor diversity on the employment market Migration movements

Examples:  employment: how to avoid discrimination on the job market?  non-discrimination policy in education  Impuls-funds for immigrant policy: supports integration of aliens  ….

4) Contribution to knowledge and understanding Documention centre with specialized studies, legal sources, statistics, educational tools, annual reports,… Posters, leaflets, brochures Information booths websites, such as “new in town” Sensitization campaigns

Example of the website for newcomers in Belgium

Example Sensitization : employers against racism

Example sensitization campaign: fighting racism in soccer stadiums

MIGRATIONSDEPARTEMENT 1) Watches over the fundamental rights of the foreigners in Belgium  Consults people with questions regarding their residency, family reunion, nationality change,….;  Gives advice, legal information or refers people to departments that can help them further;  Visits to the closed centers for asylum seekers and aliens with an illegal residency status;  structural files: such as the follow up of status and aid and shelter for unaccompanied minors

2)Monitors and analyses migration movements  Collects data to get a profile of the various migration movements : refugees, asylum seekers, family reunification, job seekers;  Maps (new) migration movements : Example Study of Iranian and Chinese migration movements to Belgium

3) Enhances the fight against human trafficking and smuggling  Human trafficking: the exploitation of people who find themselves in a precarious situation on our territory and often have been smuggled over here  Human smuggling: the illegal organized transportation of people over country boarders Sectors: exploitation of prostitutes, hotel and catering industry, clothes manufacturing industry, agricultural and horticultural sector, domestic staff in diplomatic circles, the sports world

Responsibilities  database for victims of human trafficking (  Secretariat of the inter departmental coordination cell  institutes civil legal proceedings in cases of human trafficking  Publishes an annual evaluation report  co-ordinates the three specialised reception centres for victims of human trafficking, i.e. PAYOKE (Antwerp), PAG-ASA (Brussels) and SÜRYA (Liège)

 interacts on a regular basis with organisations that defend the interests of the poor  monitors the implementation of the policy on poverty  Two supporting instruments:  the Inter-ministerial Conference for Social Integration  an independent bi-annual report POVERTY DEPARTMENT

CHALLENGES THE CENTRE FACES Promote new federal laws against discrimination and racism and ensure they work As for the decrees against discrimination and racism Burden of proof in discrimination cases Agreement of collaboration : one Centre Migration policy is the big challenge

Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism