Legal Base and Mission

According to the wording of the law: "The Centre’s task is to promote equality of opportunity and to combat all forms of discrimination, exclusion, restriction or preferential treatment based on: a so-called race, skin colour, descent, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital status, birth, wealth, age, religion or ideology, present or future state of health, disability or physical characteristics"

"The Centre also has the task of ensuring respect for the basic rights of foreigners and informing the authorities about the nature and scale of migration flows. It also has the duty of promoting consultation and dialogue between all governmental and private players involved in the reception and integration of immigrants. In addition, the Centre has the task of promoting the struggle against human trafficking (and smuggling)".

The work that the Centre does evolves based on the latest situation and the changes in our society. Accordingly the Centre has developed various practices and methods of intervention.

Welcoming, listening, informing and assisting
Knowing and understanding
Preventing, informing, raising consciousness and training
Encouraging, advising and recommending
Numerous partnerships

Welcoming, listening, informing and assisting

The Centre receives reports on a daily basis about discrimination or situations where the fundamental rights of foreigners in our territory are being infringed. The attention which the Centre devotes to these reports from the first contact is essential for proper monitoring.

A large number of requests for intervention are rapidly answered by providing information or referral to other authorities or organisations. Other questions require more work: racist or homophobic attacks, conflicts between employer and employee, discrimination in domestic leases, racist remarks and incitement to hatred on the Internet, etc. In such situations, the personnel at the Centre actively intervene and provide practical support to the victims.

Hatred and discrimination are different acts. Dispelling hatred involves the restoration of a broken social bond. Hence, the Centre prioritises approaches involving dialogue, negotiation, reconciliation and even mediation.

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Knowing and understanding

In Belgium, several organisations deal with the investigation and better understanding of the phenomena of migration, discrimination and disregard for fundamental rights, etc. For this reason the Centre collaborates with associations in the field, Belgian and European universities and institutions such as the King Baudouin Foundation. In the framework of this cooperation it organises studies, seminars and programs for the exchange of information and practical experience.

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Prevention, information, awareness raising and training

Political leaders and citizens are given information and their awareness is raised about migration, diversity and multiculturalism. This takes the form of seminars, activities in the field, information and training in specific sectors, such as government, businesses, the housing sector and sports associations.

Through its training the Centre enables judges, police, private or governmental ombudsmen, businesses, schools and associations to bend over subjects such as the fight against discrimination, diversity and intercultural communication.

Raising awareness about issues that are sometimes urgently topical also takes place through adopting public positions and via the press and media.

Many national and international organisations and associations turn to the Centre. In this context, the Centre conducts a large number of activities that forge the link between theory and a pragmatic approach in the field: for example, helping a municipal council to reflect on whether or not to permit wearing a headscarf in the municipal services, assisting managers with the introduction of diversity in their work, speaking at seminars at the local level or representing Belgium at the international level.

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Encouraging, advising and recommending

The Centre formulates recommendations to all levels of government. These recommendations focus on improving the legislation and developing action plans or seek a better understanding by the political leaders of specific new phenomena (e.g. the new migration patterns). In addition, the federal, regional and community authorities increasingly rely on the Centre for analysis and advice in matters within their competence.

The Centre continuously monitors a proper balance between a loyal attitude towards the government on the one hand, and the interests of individuals and groups who are victims of discrimination, on the other. Thanks to the independence granted to it, the Centre is able to ensure the necessary objectivity and formulate better proposals for the promotion of equal opportunities and respect for fundamental rights.

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Numerous partnerships

None of these tasks could be performed if the Centre was living in an ivory tower. Since its foundation, the Centre has always formed partnerships with organisations in various fields: representative associations of various communities and professions, associations for the integration of migrants, associations for the protection of the rights of people with disabilities, associations which represent homosexuals, etc. Work is also done with public and quasi-public institutions in the field: Public Centres for Social Welfare, university research centres, regional integration centres, etc. Through this continuous cooperation, the Centre is able to approach problems in a way that is rooted in reality and there is a fruitful interaction between reflection and action.