The Law of 13 July 2023 creates a dedicated legal framework for the prevention and fight against femicide and gender-based killings. It defines femicide, the forms of violence that may precede such killings, and establishes the gender perspective as a guiding principle for all decisions and measures taken under the law. The law requires the publication of an annual report containing key femicide statistics as well as a biannual qualitative report on femicide and gender-based killings.

The Law of 4 August 1996 imposes specific obligations on employers to safeguard workers’ well-being and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.

Article 237 of the new Belgian Penal Code (2024, entering into force in 2026) defines harassment as repeated conduct that has the purpose or effect of undermining a person’s dignity, creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment, or exerting psychological pressure that significantly alters the victim’s living conditions. The offense is punishable by 6 months to 3 years’ imprisonment or probation. Article 239 establishes an aggravating circumstance where harassment is committed with the aim of obtaining a non-consensual sexual act from the victim.

Articles 311–315 of the Belgium Penal Code criminalize conversion practices, defined as interventions aimed at altering a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Article 311 sets penalties of 6 months to 3 years in prison, or alternatives (e.g., probation, community service). Article 313 prohibits offering such practices, while Article 314 punishes incitement and advertising at 6–12 months’ probation or a fine. Article 315 provides for aggravating circumstances.

Article 293 prohibits forced marriage, while Article 294 prohibits forced legal cohabitation. Both offenses, when committed through coercion, threats, or violence, are punishable by 3 to 5 years in prison.

L’article 293 interdit le mariage forcé, tandis que l’article 294 prohibe la cohabitation légale forcée. Les deux infractions, lorsqu’elles sont commises par contrainte, menace ou violence, sont passibles de 3 à 5 ans d’emprisonnement.

Article 259 defines the crime of human trafficking, including both direct and indirect participation. The penalty is 3 to 5 years in prison. Articles 260 and 261 provide aggravated penalties, especially where minors or vulnerable persons are exploited.

Articles 206–213 of the criminalize the performance, facilitation, and promotion of female genital mutilation (FGM). Article 206 provides for a penalty of 3 to 5 years in prison. Article 211 penalizes incitement, promotion, or dissemination of FGM-related material, with 12–24 months’ probation or a fine. Aggravated circumstances apply if the offense results in death or involves a minor or vulnerable person.

Article 135 criminalizes voyeurism, defined as observing or recording a nude person or someone engaged in sexual activity without consent. The penalty is 3 to 5 years in prison. Article 136 penalizes the non-consensual distribution of intimate images or recordings, even where the person consented to the act itself, with the same penalty. 

Article 134 of the Belgian Penal Code criminalizes sexual assault, defined as non-consensual sexual acts or forcing someone to witness such acts. The penalty is 3 to 5 years in prison. Rape is separately criminalized under Article 138, punishable by 5 to 10 years. Articles 139–150 provide aggravated penalties where severe circumstances occur (serious violence, torture, confinement, weapons, death, or vulnerable/minor victims).

The new Belgian Penal Code (2024, effective 2026) establishes "discriminatory motive" as an aggravating circumstance for all offenses. Discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or ethnicity is explicitly included. Sexism is criminalized under Article 257 and may be punished with imprisonment, probation, or community service.