Belgium has significantly expanded the scope of its
anti-discrimination law. The new law also increases the sanctions
that can be imposed in cases where discrimination is found.
On 20 July 2023, an amendment to the law was published in the
Belgian State Gazette that significantly expands
anti-discrimination legislation, both in terms of its material
scope and in terms of the sanctions that can be imposed by a
court.
With this legislative amendment, the Belgian legislator
explicitly recognises the concept of 'multiple'
discrimination for the first time. The new law recognises two forms
of multiple discrimination: cumulative
discrimination (i.e. discrimination based on multiple
protected characteristics that coincide but remain separable); and
intersectional discrimination (i.e. discrimination
based on multiple protected characteristics that interact and
become inseparable).
