Belgian King condemns "unworthy" societal attitudes toward migration

The King of the Belgians said Tuesday that the larger society must work together to eliminate "indignities and humiliation."

King Philip was speaking before the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe, the 47-member human rights watchdog, in Strasbourg, France. The King's speech was recorded in a video, which was posted on the website of the Council of Europe.

Belgium currently holds the six-month rotating presidency of the organization.

"Rights and freedoms are rooted in the idea of a decent society. I mean: a society that banishes the abuse of power, the indignities and humiliation," the King told delegates.

"Despite undeniable progress, there is still, in our societies, too many situations where men and women are not treated with dignity," he said.

King Philip made a special mention of migration, paying tribute to the recent Mediterranean Sea tragedy, in which a ship containing hundreds of migrants bound for Europe capsized off the coast of Libya. Around 800 people are believed to have drowned.

The Belgian king added that many societies continued to foster "unworthy attitudes" regarding the current migration situation in Europe, which were "not only the work of individuals, but also institutions."

He said there should be an emphasis on creating a society founded on human dignity. "The collective responsibility today is to create a social and international order in which civil and political human rights, economic, social and cultural rights can be fully realized," he said. Endit