A historic court ruling that foundย Belgiumย guilty of crimes against humanity during its colonial rule of central Africa has been hailed as a turning point that could pave the way for compensation and other forms of justice.
Belgiumโs court of appealย ruled last month that the โsystematic kidnappingโย of mixed-race children from their African mothers in Belgian-ruled Congo, Rwanda and Burundi was a crime against humanity. The case wasย brought by five womenย who were removed from their Congolese mothers as small children between 1948 and 1953, and who now live in Belgium and France. Each was awarded โฌ50,000 (ยฃ42,000) in damages.
The colonial-era policy affected thousands moreย mรฉtis, children of African mothers and European fathers whom imperial Belgium deemed a threat to the white supremacist order. Many lost all contact with their mothers after being moved hundreds of miles away to live in uncaring religious institutions with meagre rations and inadequate education.
The president of the Association of Mรฉtis of Belgium, Franรงois Milliex, said the decision โsurely opens the doorโ to those seeking financial compensation for forced separation from their parents.