Belgian court makes historic ruling about colonial-era child separations

A high-level Brussels court made a ground-breaking decision this month finding the Belgian state guilty of crimes against humanity. The case focused on five mixed-race women who were forcibly removed from their African mothers during the nations colonial period

The women (known as métis) fought a long-running legal battle that lasted about 6 years - their goal was to get Belgium to accept its role in the wide-spread separation of mixed-race children from their families. During Belgiums rule over Congo which lasted from early 1900s till 1960‚ authorities took many children and put them in church-run facilities

The systematic removal of these kids affected thousands of families in the region: Belgian officials would take mixed-race infants away from their Black mothers and place them in various religious institutions. This practice was part of the colonial administrations policies that shaped the lives of many métis children

The courts decision marks a key moment for addressing Belgiums colonial past - it shows how modern justice systems can deal with historical wrongs (even though they happened more than half-a-century ago). The ruling brings attention to a dark chapter that affected countless families during the colonial era; many similar cases might follow this precedent