Article 8 [Citizenship]
(1) The title of Belgian is acquired, preserved, and lost according
to rules determined by civil law.
(2) The Constitution and the other laws relative to political rights,
determine which are, apart from this title, the necessary conditions
for the exercise of these rights.
Article 9 [Naturalization]
Naturalization is accorded by the federal legislative power.
Article 10 [Equality]
(1) There are no class distinctions in the State.
(2) Belgians are equal
before the law; they are the only ones
eligible for civil and military service, but for the exceptions that
could be made by law for special cases.
Article 11 [Non-Discrimination, Minorities]
Enjoyment of the rights and freedoms recognized for Belgians
should be ensured without discrimination. To this end, laws and
decrees guarantee notably the rights and freedoms of ideological
and philosophical minorities.
Article 12 [Personal Liberty]
(1) Individual freedom is guaranteed.
(2) No one can be prosecuted except in the cases provided for by
law, and in the form prescribed by law.
(3) Except in the case of flagrante delicto, no one can be arrested
except by a justifiable judge's order, that must be served at the
moment of arrest, or at the latest within twenty-four hours.
Article 13 [Lawful Judge]
No one can be separated, unwillingly, from the judge that the law
has assigned to him.
Article 14 [Legal Punishment]
No punishment can be made or given except in pursuance of the
law.
Article 15 [Home]
The domicile is inviolable; no visit to the individual's residence
can take place except in the cases provided for by law and in the
form prescribed by law.
Article 16 [Property]
No one can be deprived of his property except in the case of
expropriation for a public purpose, in the cases and manner
established by law, and in return for a fair compensation paid
beforehand.
Article 17 [No Confiscation]
Punishment by confiscation of assets cannot be made.
Article 18 [Capital Punishment]
The death penalty is abolished; it cannot be brought back into
force.
Article 19 [Freedom of Expression]
Freedom of worship, public practice of the latter, as well as
freedom to demonstrate one's opinions on all matters, are
guaranteed, except for the repression of offenses committed when
using this freedom.
Article 20 [No Forced Religion]
No one can be obliged to contribute in any way whatsoever to the
acts and ceremonies of a religion, nor to observe the days of rest.
Article 21 [Church Competencies, Civil Wedding]
(1) The State does not have the right to intervene either in the
nomination or in the installation of ministers of any religion
whatsoever, nor to forbid these ministers from corresponding with
their superiors, from publishing their acts, except, in the latter
case, taking into consideration normal responsibilities in matters
of press and publication.
(2) A civil wedding should always precede nuptial benediction
except in cases established by law, should this be necessary.
Article 22 [Privacy]
(1) Everyone has the right to the respect of his private and
family life, except in the cases and conditions determined by
law.
(2) The laws, decrees, and rulings alluded to in Article
134 guarantee the protection of this right.
Article 23 [Dignity]
(1) Everyone has the right to lead a life in conformity with
human dignity.
(2) To this end, the laws, decrees, and rulings alluded to in
Article 134 guarantee, taking into account corresponding
obligations, economic, social, and cultural rights, and determine
the conditions for exercising them.
(3) These rights include notably:
1) the right to employment and to the free choice of a
professional activity in the framework of a general employment
policy, aimed among others at ensuring a level of employment
that is as stable and high as possible, the right to fair terms of
employment and to fair remuneration, as well as the right to
information, consultation and collective negotiation;
2) the right to social security, to health care and to social,
medical, and legal aid;
3) the right to have decent accommodation;
4) the right to enjoy the protection of a healthy
environment:
5) the right to enjoy cultural and social fulfillment.
Article 24 [Education]
(1.1) Education is free; any preventative measure is forbidden;
the repression of offenses is only governed law or decree.
(1.2) The Community offers free choice to parents.
(1.3) The Community organizes neutral education. Neutrality
implies notably the respect of the philosophical, ideological, or
religious conceptions of parents and pupils.
(1.4) The schools organized by the public authorities offer, until
the end of mandatory schooling, the choice between the teaching
of one of the recognized religions and non-denominational moral
teaching.
(2) If a Community, in its capacity as an organizing authority,
wishes to delegate competency to one or several autonomous
bodies, it can only do so by decree adopted by a two-third
majority vote.
(3.1) Everyone has the right to education with the respect of
fundamental rights and freedoms. Access to education is free
until the end of mandatory schooling.
(3.2) All pupils of school age have the right to moral or religious
education at the Community's expense.
(4) All pupils or students, parents, teaching staff, or institutions
are equal before the law or decree. The law and decree take into
account objective differences, notably the characteristics of each
organizing authority, that justify appropriate treatment.
(5) The organization, the recognition and the subsidizing of
education by the Community are regulated by law or decree.
Article 25 [Press]
(1) The press is free; censorship can never be established; security
from authors, publishers, or printers cannot be demanded.
(2) When the author is known and resident in Belgium, neither
the publisher, nor the printer, nor the distributor can be
prosecuted.
Article 26 [Assembly]
(1) Belgians have the right to gather peaceably and without
arms, in conformity with the laws that regulate the exercise of
this right, without submitting it to prior authorization.
(2) This provision does not apply to open air meetings, which
are entirely subject to police regulations.
Article 27 [Association]
Belgians have the right to enter into association or partnership;
this right cannot be liable to any preventative measures.
Article 28 [Petition]
(1) Everyone has the right to address petitions signed by one or
more persons to the public authorities.
(2) Constituted bodies are alone able to address petitions in a
collective name.
Article 29 [Secrecy of Letters]
(1) The confidentiality of letters is inviolable.
(2) The law determines which nominated representatives can
violate the confidentiality of letters entrusted to the postal
service.
Article 30 [Choice of Language]
The use of languages current in Belgium is optional; only the law
can rule on this matter, and only for acts of the public authorities
and for legal matters.
Article 31 [Liability of Civil Servants]
No prior authorization is necessary to take legal action against
civil servants because of their public office, except with regard
to what has been ruled on concerning ministers and members of
the Community and Regional governments.
Article 32 [Information]
Everyone has the right to consult any administrative document and
to have a copy made, except in the cases and conditions stipulated
by the laws, decrees, or rulings referred to in Article 134.