Recently, Belgium’s deputy prime minister voiced “bitter regret” over the UN Security Council’s failure to convey a clear message in favor of international law, urging for stronger global action to safeguard human rights and hold perpetrators accountable.
During the high-level segment of the 58th session of the Human Rights Council on Monday, Maxime Prevot recognized certain international backing for the UN Charter but condemned the Security Council’s lack of action.
“We do welcome the fact that yesterday in New York, the majority of members of this House reaffirmed their support for the principles of the Charter. We do nonetheless bitterly regret the fact that the United Nations Security Council was not able to send the same message,” he stated.
As Belgian minister of foreign affairs, European affairs, and development cooperation, Prevot cautioned that violations of sovereignty and territorial integrity—whether in Ukraine, the Palestinian territories, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo—should raise concerns among the international community.
He emphasized that aggression and territorial grabs by force must be collectively condemned.
Announcing Belgium’s support for the International Criminal Court (ICC), he said serious crimes should not go unpunished.
“The world needs a court, which working alongside national courts, can try these serious crimes and do so impartially and independently,” he expressed. As well as raising concerns over efforts to weaken human rights protections, he cautioned against redefining or undermining fundamental freedoms.
He emphasized the vital function of NGOs and civil society in protecting human rights and called on governments to ensure they are shielded from threats and intimidation. “Faced with these concerted efforts to push back against human rights, we need a concerted effort by all of us to ensure, to guarantee that the rule of law and human rights remain the bedrock of communities, societies, and international relations more than ever before,” he stated.
With 2025 marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing World Conference on Women, Prevot warned of troubling setbacks in gender equality. He reaffirmed Belgium’s commitment to fully implementing the Beijing Declaration and keeping gender equality high on the global agenda.
