Some Colonial Crimes May Amount to Crimes Against Humanity – EJIL: Talk! – Go Health Pro

Some Colonial Crimes May Amount to Crimes Against Humanity – EJIL: Talk! – Go Health Pro

On December 2, 2024, Brussels’ Court of Appeal found the Belgian State guilty of crimes against humanity for the abduction of mixed-race children during the colonial rule in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Court ruled in favour of five women born to a black mother and a white father who were forcibly removed from their families and placed in religious orphanages before the Congo’s independence in 1960. Each plaintiff was awarded 50,000 euros in damages for the suffering caused by the loss of ties to their mothers, to their home environment, and their loss of identity.

This decision reversed the first instance judgment of December 8, 2021. In 2019, Belgium’s Prime Minister apologized for the injustice suffered by people of mixed ancestry born during the colonial period. It is estimated that thousands of children were affected by the policy of forced removals during Belgium’s rule over the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi.

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Chestnut Hill Conservancy Announces New Archives Exhibition: Mapping the Wissahickon: From the Colonial Era to an Evolving Watershed – Go Health Pro

Chestnut Hill Conservancy Announces New Archives Exhibition: Mapping the Wissahickon: From the Colonial Era to an Evolving Watershed – Go Health Pro

Public Opening: Friday, May 2, 2025 | 5:00–7:00 PM The Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s new archives exhibit, “Mapping the Wissahickon: From the Colonial Era to an Evolving Watershed“, explores the Wissahickon Valley’s evolving landscape and the long-standing conservation efforts that continue to shape its future. Featuring over three centuries of historic maps, guides, and publications, the … Read more