The government response to COVID-19 raised human rights concerns, including in relation to health, asylum-seekers, policing and privacy. The government established extra care centres for survivors of rape and sexual violence. The Wallonia region authorized arms transfers to the Yemen conflict.

The 12 Iranian men, who had been facing forcible return to Iran, were released on 21 December. Their lawyer will now be working to ensure that they obtain a legal right to remain in Belgium.

Twelve Iranian nationals are at risk of forcible return to Iran as soon as the Belgian authorities obtain the appropriate documentation from the Iranian embassy. The group consists of refused asylum-seekers and irregular immigrants who were amongst 23 individuals that had been occupying a church...

There is concern for the safety of about 500 asylum-seekers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who are at risk of forcible return from Belgium to the DRC under new accelerated asylum procedures.