Belgium: care for people with disabilities under scrutiny from the UN
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a United Nations mechanism responsible for assessing the human rights situation in each member state every five years, under the auspices of the Human Rights Council. During its last review in 2021, Belgium agreed to implement 251 recommendations, relating in particular to prison conditions and the care of people with disabilities. It is this latter issue, which is of particular concern, that we will examine here.
As part of this UN review, civil society organisations and various independent institutions may also submit contributions to highlight specific concerns regarding respect for human rights. A summary of these contributions, published by the UN in early 2026, thus highlighted several areas of concern regarding Belgium’s compliance with its commitments.
Despite the commitments made, persistent marginalisation of people with disabilities
In their contributions, these organisations denounce several forms of systemic discrimination affecting people with disabilities in Belgium. Access to housing remains a particular cause for concern, with an estimated rate of perceived discrimination at 15% – one of the highest in Europe – whilst the lack of adapted housing limits their independence. Several deaths of people with psychosocial disabilities during police interventions have also been reported, as has the incarceration of psychiatric patients due to a lack of sufficient places in specialist facilities.
Concerns regarding euthanasia for people with disabilities
The contributions also highlight issues related to euthanasia. Several organisations are concerned about the consequences of Belgian legislation, which permits euthanasia in certain situations of psychological suffering deemed unbearable and which was extended to minors in 2014. Some of them also point out that nearly 20% of recorded euthanasia deaths in Belgium involve patients exhibiting symptoms frequently associated with ageing. In a society where people with disabilities – particularly as they age – often remain marginalised, several organisations fear that a lack of sufficient safeguards may reinforce certain negative perceptions regarding the value of their lives and their dignity.
Down’s syndrome and abortion: are parents receiving comprehensive information?
Finally, several international human rights organisations and bodies have drawn attention to issues relating to prenatal screening for Down’s syndrome. In Belgium, the rate of selective terminations following diagnosis is reported to exceed 95%. Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), which enables the early detection of this chromosomal abnormality, raises ethical questions: are expectant parents receiving sufficiently comprehensive and balanced information about the reality of the disability?
Several recommendations from the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), published in its concluding observations of September 2024 concerning Belgium, had already emphasised the need for non-directive support, free from stereotypes based on an exclusively medical and negative view of disability. They also called on the authorities to strengthen material, social and psychological support for families in order to promote the acceptance and inclusion of children from the very start of their lives.
Care still deemed insufficient
In short, the various submissions to the UN highlight persistent concerns regarding the place accorded to people with disabilities within Belgian society. Faced with the risks of marginalisation and the lack of suitable infrastructure or care systems, Belgium must further strengthen this care in order to guarantee the support, inclusion and protection of people with disabilities and their families.
