In 2019, the Government of Flanders announced their withdrawal from the Belgian interfederal agreement establishing the current mandate of Unia (Interfederal Centre for Equal Opportunities). Instead, the Government of Flanders wishes to establish a Flanders Human Rights Institute (VMRI) through a decree of the Parliament of Flanders. Given that Unia is a member of Equinet and that the VMRI would hold a strong equality body mandate covering Flemish competences, Equinet was asked to provide advice on the issue.
This advice focuses on the future VMRI’s equality mandate, but Equinet underlines that where an equality body is part of an institution with multiple mandates (for instance covering also human rights), the equality body mandate should receive adequate visibility, attention and resources (preferably with an own budget line).
This advice is based on European legislation, soft law and good practices and it cannot aspire to provide detailed advice on all aspects of the expected major institutional changes. At the same time Equinet wishes to emphasise the importance of the Flemish Parliament deciding on the best regulatory and institutional models for the future VMRI through a transparent, thorough and participatory process, with particular attention to taking into account the experiences and advice from Unia and other equality bodies existing in Belgium.