Belgian state given six months to tackle overcrowded prisons
Belgium has been ordered to improve its severely overcrowded prison system within six months after legal challenges highlighted human rights violations. With nearly 800 inmates forced to sleep on the floor due to a shortfall of thousands of spaces, officials are under pressure to address systemic issues involving sanitation, medical care, and infrastructure.
Belgium has been given a six-month deadline to address the chronic overcrowding in its prison system. Recent figures indicate that there are over 13,700 detainees housed in facilities designed for only 11,000, leaving nearly 800 individuals forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor. The Order of Flemish Bars initiated legal action, arguing that these conditions violate fundamental human rights and cause severe issues such as poor hygiene, limited personal space, and inadequate medical care.
The structural crisis has been criticized by international bodies, including the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights, which previously ruled that Belgium failed to provide humane detention conditions. Similar problems regarding capacity and staffing shortages are also currently impacting the prison system in the Netherlands. Belgian authorities must now find a way to mitigate these systemic failures within the established timeframe to ensure detainees receive appropriate treatment and adequate housing as required by law.
Based on reporting by nu. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
