Belgium has announced its candidacy for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council for the term 2031 to 2033.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Belgium's intention to run for a seat on Tuesday, while Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Prévot (Les Engagés) is in Geneva for the opening of the 58th session of the Human Rights Council.
Belgium has been a member of the Council since 2023 and will remain so until 2026.
While in Geneva, Prévot will outline Belgium's human rights priorities, including the global abolition of the death penalty. Belgium, alongside seven other countries, plans to submit a new resolution on this issue to the Human Rights Council in September.
'Moral responsibility'
During its current term, Belgium focuses on the rule of law, children’s rights, protection of human rights defenders and gender equality.
"The defence of human rights is much more than a priority, it is a moral responsibility," Prévot stated. "Today, in the four corners of the world, these rights are increasingly flouted: the rights of women, of the LGBTQIA+ community, all forms of racism."
He stressed Belgium's "firm" opposition to the death penalty. "We will continue to fight for a world where justice and compassion prevail over violence."
