Belgium
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
- CONSTITUTION
- February 7, 1831; revised on July 14, 1993 to create a federal state; amended several times, last in 2019
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- civil law system based on the French civil code; recognizes ICJ jurisdiction as compulsory with reservations
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral Parliament, Senate (Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French) and Chamber of Representatives (Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Constitutional Court or Grondwettelijk Hof (in Dutch) and Cour Constitutionelle (in French) (composed of 12 judges - 6 Dutch-speaking and 6 French-speaking); Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) and Cour de Cassation (in French) (court organized into 3 chambers: civil and commercial; criminal; social, tax, and military; each chamber includes a Dutch division and a French division, each with a president and 5-6 judges); Courts of Appeal; regional courts; specialized courts for administrative, commercial, labor, immigration, and audit matters; magistrate courts; justices of the peace
RELIGIONS
Roman Catholic 57.1%, Protestant 2.3%, other Christian 2.8%, Muslim 6.8%, other 1.7%, atheist 9.1%, non-believer/agnostic 20.2% (estimate 2018)
From the country
- DECEMBER 21, 2003BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Cardinal Godfried Danneels said he supported capital...
Cardinal Godfried Danneels said he supported capital punishment in theory but was opposed to it in practice, Belgian television reported
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2003BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
HOC MEETS PRODI AND FRATTINI AS EUROPEAN MISSION ENDS
September 30, 2003: the European mission conducted by George Ryan together with Leroy Orange came to an end on Monday in Brussels.
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2003BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
The European mission conducted by former governor of...
The European mission conducted by former governor of Illinois and current Hands Off Cain Honorary President George Ryan, together with Leroy Orange, ex death row inmate who is alive thanks to the moratorium on executions introduced by the governor in his
- APRIL 24, 2003BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the...
Belgium was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights, in Geneva
- JANUARY 1, 2003BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium has signed but not yet ratified Protocol No...
Belgium has signed but not yet ratified Protocol No 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms banning the death penalty in all circumstances
- JANUARY 1, 2003BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
The last execution was carried out in 1950
The last execution was carried out in 1950
- JANUARY 1, 2003BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996
- OCTOBER 21, 2002BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium is to send the runner-up in the Miss Belgium...
Belgium is to send the runner-up in the Miss Belgium contest to the Miss World event in Nigeria after the title holder Ann Van Elsen decided to stay away from the contest to protest against the sentence of death by stoning imposed on a Nigerian woman accu
- OCTOBER 9, 2002BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Miss Belgium burst into tears after a public clash...
Miss Belgium burst into tears after a public clash with two rival beauty queens over plans to boycott the Miss World pageant in Nigeria to protest human rights abuses
- SEPTEMBER 4, 2002BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Turkey Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, on a visit...
Turkey Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, on a visit to Brussels as part of the action plan to explain Turkey's efforts to fulfil Copenhagen Criteria, asked Belgian Minister for European Affairs Annemie Neyts to extradite Fehriye Erdal, suspected of Ozdem
- SEPTEMBER 4, 2002BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Turkey Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, on a visit...
Turkey Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, on a visit to Brussels as part of the action plan to explain Turkey's efforts to fulfil Copenhagen Criteria, asked Belgian Minister for European Affairs Annemie Neyts to extradite Fehriye Erdal, suspected of Ozdem
- MAY 3, 2002BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium signed Protocol 13 to the European Convention...
Belgium signed Protocol 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights, which ensures the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances