Belgium convicted for crimes against humanity in Congo's mixed-race girls case

In a landmark court ruling, Belgium has been found guilty of crimes against humanity concerning the treatment of mixed-race girls during its colonial rule in Africa. The case was initiated by five women who were forcibly taken from their families as children and placed in orphanages in the Belgian Congo, now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo, between 1945 and 1950. These women, Simone Ngalula, Monique Bitu Bingi, Léa Tavares Mujinga, Noelle Verbeeken, and Marie-José Loshi, were the offspring of white Belgian fathers and Congolese mothers, leading to their abduction under a discriminatory state policy that targeted mixed-race children. The guidelines of this policy reflected the deep-seated racism of the time, which viewed these children as illegitimate and undesirable. Upon winning their appeal in Brussels, Bingi expressed the collective pride of the group and a sense of relief stating, 'We won, we are very proud. A weight has been lifted.' This ruling not only recognizes the historical injustices faced by these women but also opens avenues for discussions around reparations and acknowledgment of the colonial past of Belgium. It marks a significant moment in acknowledging the lasting impact of colonial practices and the need for accountability and reparative justice for affected individuals and communities.