Belgium votes to make ecocide a crime under international law

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 19:56:40 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://geographical.co.uk/science-environment/belgium-recognises-ecocide-as-international-level-crime>

"The Belgian Federal Parliament voted today in favour of a revised penal code
that makes ecocide punishable at both national and international levels, making
the country the first European nation to recognise ecocide under international
law.

‘Belgium is now at the forefront of a truly global conversation around
criminalising the most severe harms to nature and must continue to advocate for
the recognition of ecocide at the International Criminal Court, alongside
genocide,’ says Patricia Willocq, Director of Stop Ecocide Belgium. ‘In order
to fully protect nature, it is necessary that those that would wilfully destroy
vast swathes of the natural world, in turn causing untold human harm, should be
criminalised.’

Nationally, the new crime, which is aimed at preventing and punishing the most
severe cases of environmental degradation (such as extensive oil spills), will
apply to individuals in the highest positions of decision-making power and to
corporations. The punishment for individuals may include up to 20 years in
prison, while corporations could face fines of up to €1.6 million. In addition,
Belgium now recognises ecocide as a fifth ‘international crime’ after war
crimes, crimes of aggression, crimes against humanity and genocide."

Via Fix the News:
<https://fixthenews.com/good-news-human-rights-greece-education-burundi-reforestation-america/>

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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