The Faculty of Law is committed to helping students achieve excellence and autonomy. It conducts cutting-edge, interdisciplinary scientific research in key areas, notably through its research centers, CRIDS and Vulnérabilités et Sociétés. It organizes various services for society, such as continuing education for legal professionals.
The studies
The Faculty of Law offers a 3-year bachelor's degree course, either on a daytime or a staggered timetable. Bachelor's studies in law at the University of Namur offer a complete basic legal training, aimed at turning students into excellent general lawyers suitable for the Master's program in law.
Research
The Faculty of Law conducts cutting-edge, interdisciplinary scientific research. Rooted in today's society, it focuses its research priorities, in particular, around its two research centers: the CRIDS and the Centre Vulnérabilités et Sociétés. Doctoral training is offered to lawyers wishing to complete a doctoral thesis.
Service to society
As well as teaching and research, the University has a mission to serve society. As part of this, the Faculty of Law offers various continuing education activities for legal professionals. The Faculty's blog is also available, and shares Belgian and international legal news. Last but not least, the Faculty of Law Alumni Association is active: it's impossible to forget the Faculty after you've been there!
Organization
The Faculty is optimally organized to manage its missions of teaching, research and service to society.
The common thread in law
Since 2022, the Faculty of Law has chosen a theme for the year that unites the entire Faculty, students and teachers alike, across all blocks. This topic will be exploited in courses, framings, assignments, and during lectures and cultural activities offered throughout the academic year. A new dynamic that makes the University of Namur's framing even more unique.
The Faculty of Law in figures
Faculty Library
The Faculty of Law library holds around 20,000 books and subscribes to some 150 periodicals covering the various branches of law. It also houses the CRIDS (Centre de Recherche Information, Droit, Société) documentation center, as well as the Vulnérabilités et Sociétés documentation center.
Spotlight
News
Our researchers in the World's Top 2% Scientists list
Our researchers in the World's Top 2% Scientists list
Stanford University has published a prestigious ranking that highlights the most influential researchers in a wide range of scientific fields. The list, based on bibliographic criteria, aims to provide a standardized means of identifying the world's scientific leaders. It is one criterion among others for assessing the quality of scientific research. Twelve researchers from the University of Namur are among them!
This list, created by Stanford University and published in August 2024 is compiled in collaboration with Elsevier's ICST lab from Scopus data, aims to provide a standardized means of identifying the world's best scientists and recognizing those scientists who have had a significant impact on their respective fields.
While this list has been adopted by many institutions as a reliable measure of research impact, it is not the only way to evaluate research. Based strictly on bibliometric data, it is also subject to criticism.
Since September 2023, the University of Namur has been strengthening its commitment to the implementation of research assessment reform with the signing of the "Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) "agreement.
This agreement commits the institution to a series of principles, including taking into account career diversity and emphasizing qualitative research criteria rather than relying solely on bibliometric (and therefore quantitative) data.
Namur University researchers honored
- Charlotte Beaudart - Faculty of Medicine, Narilis Institute
- Benoît Champagne - Faculty of Science, NISM Institute
- Alain Decrop - EMCP Faculty, NaDi-CRIDS Institute
- Olivier Deparis - Science Faculty, NISM Institute and PaTHs Institute
- Jonathan Douxfils - Faculty of Medicine, Narilis Institute
- Patrick Kestemont - Faculty of Science, ILEE Institute
- Alexandre Mayer - Faculty of Science, NISM Institute and Institut naXys
- Carine Michiels - Faculty of Science, Institut Narilis
- Antoinette Rouvroy - Faculty of Law, ESPHIN Institutes and NaDi-CRIDS Institute
- Frédéric Silvestre - Faculty of Science, ILEE Institute
- Bao-Lian Su - Faculty of Science, NISM Institute
- Johan Wouters - Faculty of Science, NISM Institute
The list is updated every year, with data on the whole career and impacts on a single year, for the sake of transparency and relevance.
The measurement criteria used
A variety of bibliometric measures are taken into account to ensure a fair and balanced representation of researchers' work.
- The C-score: this composite score is based on various bibliometric factors, including the total number of citations.
- The h-index: this impact indicator takes into account the number of a researcher's publications as well as the number of their citations.
- The percentiles of fields and subfields : scientists are classified into 22 major fields and 176 subfields. Only those who rank in the top 2% of their subfield are taken into account.
- Career-wide or single-year impact: rankings are available for both career-wide impact and single-year performance, providing a better understanding of long-term contribution and recent achievements.
Research excellence
Figuring among this top 2% of scientists is therefore a prestigious recognition of an individual's contribution to science and demonstrates the excellence of their research, enhancing their reputation in academia and industry.
The ranking offers visibility across all disciplines, drawing attention to work that might otherwise remain in a niche or be under-appreciated. It also serves as a benchmark for institutions and governments to assess the influence of their research programs.
Many institutions use the ranking to measure the success of their faculty, or other entity, which can also enhance credibility within the academic community.
This list encourages scientists to focus on producing high-quality, impactful research rather than chasing quantity.
By compiling data from all scientific fields and offering a fair, metrics-based approach, this ranking not only celebrates individual achievements, but also highlights the importance of impactful research in advancing knowledge. However, it must be qualified, as it only takes into account quantitative data, which are not necessarily representative of the full diversity of research.
According to another database, that of UNESCO, the number of researchers in the world is increasing by 300,000 per year, reaching 9 million today. The Top 2% comprises 200,000 names, including twelve researchers from the University of Namur.
Congratulations to them for their excellent research and for this prestigious worldwide recognition!
Right to identity: "Unacceptable discrimination for some children".
Right to identity: "Unacceptable discrimination for some children".
Like all human beings, children are protected by a series of rights. Géraldine Mathieu, a professor at the University of Namur, today looks at the right to identity and explains why this is still only partially respected in Belgium.
This article is taken from the "Impact" section of the June 2024 issue of Omalius magazine.
When commenting on the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, Géraldine Mathieu doesn't stop at the 12 most frequently cited rights. "As relevant as the selection made by the French Rights Defender is (see box), it is far from covering all children's rights: there's a reason why the Convention has 54 articles!
I therefore prefer to talk about the 4 pillars of the Convention, which are "the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration", the protection of the child against all forms of discrimination, regardless of, in particular, the mode of conception and the status of the parents, the right to life, survival and development, and "the right to express his or her views freely in all matters affecting him or her" and to have those views taken into account."
Discrimination
In other words, the child is a human being in his or her own right and, like all human beings, is entitled to fundamental rights, including the right to know his or her origins, in order to appropriate his or her history and forge his or her identity. "This right is protected by Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention", says Géraldine Mathieu. "And this is where Belgium practices, in my opinion, an inadmissible form of discrimination. In our country, if a child born of natural procreation wants to find out the identity of his biological father, the courts will help him to do so. In the Delphine Boël case, for example, King Albert was ordered to submit to a DNA test. For adopted children, the name of the biological mother is recorded in the birth certificate: to have access to the identity of his or her mother, the child simply needs to request a certified copy of this certificate. But this protection does not extend to children born from anonymous sperm or egg donation, as part of medically assisted procreation (MAP)."
Serial donor
In this respect, Belgium is marking time compared with many European countries, notably France, which has just lifted donor anonymity. "Obviously, the lifting of anonymity must not be confused with the establishment of legal filiation," Géraldine Mathieu points out. "In fact, almost all countries that have lifted donation anonymity have blocked all effects at the level of filiation. But children who wish to do so must be able to obtain information about their donor, at least non-identifying - what he looked like, his occupation, his personality, why he made the donation - but ideally also identifying, if only to counter the fear of an incestuous encounter with another child from the same donor... Recently, the Netherlands revealed the existence of a serial donor, who fathered over 500 children!"
Biology
In Belgium, sperm from the same donor cannot lead to the birth of children to more than six different women. "But, when the 2007 law on PMA was passed, the right to identity of children born from this technique was completely neglected", insists Géraldine Mathieu. "In fact, they have grouped together, in Belgium, within the association Donor Kinderen. These children have the right to be given back everything that makes them who they are today - their parents' wishes, of course, but also their biological origins. In the quest for identity, biology should be neither overestimated nor underestimated."
GPA
For children born of surrogate motherhood (GPA), it's not easy either to get their rights respected in general, and their right to identity in particular. "In Belgium, GPA is not prohibited as it is in France, but neither is it regulated," explains Géraldine Mathieu. "So, we tinker with common law..."Although the centers that practice GPA refuse any genetic link between the surrogate mother and the child (so she doesn't provide her oocytes), it's her name that appears on the birth certificate, and she is therefore its mother in the eyes of the law. The intended parents must then resort to adoption to formalize their relationship with their child. It is also possible for the father of intention to recognize the child, and then for the mother of intention to adopt the child. Provided the surrogate mother doesn't change her mind...
Non-trade
"This is why many couples tempted by GPA go abroad, particularly to the United States, where the surrogate mother undertakes by contract to give up the baby at birth, the intended parents being legally considered the parents," details Géraldine Mathieu. "But this is obviously a commercial relationship, with surrogacy agencies and surrogate mothers being paid. Yet a child can neither be bought nor sold: it's off the market! "In Belgium, several bills aimed at framing GPA have already been tabled. "But none of them mention the rights of the child", notes Géraldine Mathieu. "Yet, unlike adoption, whose aim is to find a family for a child who is deprived of one, GPA consists in manufacturing a child for a couple who wants one. The day we legislate to regulate it, we mustn't forget that there is no right to a child, only children's rights, and that every child has the right to know where he or she comes from."
Marie-Françoise Dispa
The 12 (main) rights of the child
Ces 12 droits, sélectionnés par le Défenseur français des droits, sont inscrits dans la Convention internationale des droits de l’enfant, adoptée par l’Assemblée générale des Nations Unies le 20 novembre 1989 :
- droit à l'égalité
- droit d'avoir une identité
- droit de vivre en famille
- droit à la santé
- droit à l'éducation et aux loisirs
- droits à la protection de la vie privée
- droit à une justice adaptée à son âge
- droit d'être protégé en temps de guerre
- droit d'être protégé contre toutes les formes de violence
- droit d'être protégé contre toutes les formes d'exploitation
- droit de s'exprimer et d'être entendu sur les questions qui le concernent
- droits de l'enfant en situation de handicap de vivre avec et comme les autres
Mais les droits de l’enfant sont beaucoup plus nombreux, comme en témoigne notamment la liste établie par la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles pour expliquer la Convention aux enfants de 3 à 6 ans.
This article is taken from the "Impact" section of Omalius magazine #33 (June 2024).
The Faculty of Law mobilizes against harassment
The Faculty of Law mobilizes against harassment
The Faculty of Law's project is to get students working together around a single theme, which will be implemented in all courses throughout the academic year. After exploring childhood and migration in its first edition, this year's Fil Rouge focuses on the theme of harassment. Following a conclusive first four months, the momentum has been stepped up for this second half of the academic year.
This theme, proposed by the students, encompasses harassment at school, at work, sexually, towards minorities... whether of a physical and/or moral nature, whether it manifests itself in person, online or otherwise. Over the course of the two terms, various courses, practical work, conferences and cultural events were organized, and several outside speakers enlightened students in various fields (cyberbullying, harassment of the elderly...). This innovative pedagogical approach bore fruit, bringing together all the students (daytime and staggered timetable) and the teaching team throughout the academic year.
A look back at some of these activities.
.A day of training with PHARE
As part of the University of Namur's PHARE program, students had the opportunity to visit the immersive "Poésie masculine" exhibition, in collaboration with the Delta. They were confronted with the experience of street harassment, in the shoes of a victim. The day continued with a screening of Caroline Pierret Pirson's film "Plus jamais silencieuse", followed by a meeting with the artist, and a conference led by Nathalie Grandjean and Stéphanie Wattier, professors at UNamur.
.Eloquence tournament
For over 20 years, the Faculty of Law has organized its traditional Tournoi d'éloquence. A perilous exercise for students, who must write a high-quality text on an imposed subject, then express themselves with ease in public for around ten minutes. Their challenge: capture the attention of the audience and the jury, express emotion with accuracy and dare to reveal themselves.
This year, students were asked to comment on Sartre's quote "L'enfer, c'est les autres" ("Hell is other people"). A quote chosen in connection with the red thread.
Six students, four in daytime and two in staggered hours, took part and were coached by Professor Benoît Michaux. At the end of their performances, three students received awards:
- Delphine Blouard - 1st prize and audience prize
- Eléonore Deplasse - 2nd prize
- Eric Dufer (HD bac) - 3rd prize
Conference on street harassment
In mid-March, a pre-event dedicated to street harassment was organized by and for students, at the initiative of the "Les Bras Droit" kot-à-projet. On the program: screening of the documentary "Femmes de la Rue" by Sofie Peeters and a discussion on the subject led by various speakers: Bertrand de Buisseret, former UNamur student and sanctioning official for the commune of Ixelles; Noémie Blaise, also a former student and now substitute for the Namur Public Prosecutor; Margot Lamy, criminologist at the Namur Public Prosecutor's Office; Sophie Navez, member of the Namur police force specializing in harassment; Coline Leclercq, UNamur Gender Contact; and Pablo Giesdorf, student delegate in charge of the issue. Over the course of the evening, male and female students had the opportunity to tackle this issue in a concrete way and to exchange views with professionals in the field, all of whom stressed the importance of interdisciplinarity in tackling this issue/topic in a comprehensive manner.
Artistic creation competition
On the initiative of and in collaboration with the Faculty of Law as part of its Fil Rouge, UNamur organized an art competition to raise awareness of harassment and the development of benevolence on campus. The competition was open to two categories of artistic creations: those by students and those by staff members. Two winners were chosen.
Third-year medical student Nour AZEGHI, active in defending all those who have no place or voice, wins the prize in her category with her work "Touche le bon". A metaphorical work that tackles the theme of harassment with sensitivity and empathy, and tends to highlight the importance of mutual support and solidarity in difficult times.
The second winner is Quentin RICHARD, a young assistant in the Faculty of Economics, Social Studies and Management. He wins the prize for his deeply sensitive and touching short story, entitled "Qui épouse protège".
Closing evening
To close these seven months of Fil Rouge in style, the Faculty of Law organized a charity improv match, pitting the Avocats du Diable team against the Salsifis com'ça team. In all, the evening reunited over €1,750 in profits for the ASBL LE RPH, an association that brings together professionals from different backgrounds to share information, practices and reflections relating to the problems of harassment in education, and to encourage exchanges between stakeholders from different sectors (education, youth, equal opportunities, health promotion, youth aid, ...) in a pluralist manner.
Once again, the projects organized throughout the academic year by the Faculty of Law, punctuated by the Fil Rouge, bear witness to an innovative and fruitful pedagogical approach. "This is a very rich experience, with many discoveries for the students, a remarkable awareness and conscientization", emphasizes Marie Amélie Delvaux, professor of judicial law and one of the project's carriers. "We're fundamentally convinced that to be a good jurist, you have to rub shoulders with reality. This can be done via field experience or internships, but you can't experience everything. I think that through reading, social involvement or even cinema and theater, we can be confronted with certain realities that enable us to complete our legal baggage", adds Élise Defreyne, educational coordinator and also project sponsor.
This year dedicated to harassment in all its forms illustrates the commitment of Law School students and professionals in the field to combating this crucial issue, demonstrating that education, awareness and collective action are the pillars of lasting social change.
And next year's Fil Rouge?
The thread that will weave its way through the Faculty of Law in 2024-2025 will be dedicated to a more inclusive and tolerant society, with the idea being that every citizen has a place in society, regardless of race, gender, social class, generation... Objective: to raise awareness of racism, LGBTQIA+, the less able, the elderly or very young, grossophobia, ... Still many motivating activities in store!!
Find out more about the Faculty of Law
Diving into the Mawda case: a unique and innovative educational project
Diving into the Mawda case: a unique and innovative educational project
This is a first in terms of pedagogical approach: to have all the students and teachers of the Faculty of law, all blocks (bachelor in daytime and in staggered timetable) and programmes combined, work for an academic year on the same theme. From courses to practical work, including conferences, cultural and artistic events and civic engagement, all the activities proposed by the Faculty of law focus on the same theme: childhood in a migratory context. The project is called "Fill rouge" (Red thread). After a successful first four months, the momentum is building for the second half of the academic year.
La thématique de cette 1ère édition du Fil Rouge : « Enfance et migration »
Elle fait référence à « l’affaire Mawda » du nom de cette petite fille de migrants kurdes âgée de 2 ans, tuée en mai 2018 par le tir d’un policier, alors que la camionnette dans laquelle elle se trouvait avec ses parents et une vingtaine de migrants était prise en chasse par la police.
Un drame qui, à ce jour, a déjà fait l’objet de trois procès dont le dernier visant la responsabilité de l’Etat belge et pour lequel un jugement est attendu tout prochainement.
Depuis septembre 2022, les cours et travaux pratiques mais aussi de nombreuses activités extra-académiques, proposés aux étudiants de droit exploitent cette thématique.
Quelques exemples
- Les étudiants ont déjà eu l’occasion de plaider lors d’un procès simulé relatif à un dossier d’accueil des migrants, suivi d’un retour critique et d’explications de l’avocat Alexis Deswaef, spécialisé dans la défense des droits humains. "Un projet novateur, enrichissant, mêlant tant la transmission de savoirs théoriques juridiques qu'une belle mise en pratique, permettant d'intégrer des soft skills nécessaires à une pratique future, quel que soit le métier du droit que l'on souhaite exercer. Avec le procès simulé, l’UNamur ouvre la voie à une vision contemporaine et innovante de l'apprentissage, entre théorie et pratique, une vision plus participative mettant l'accent sur le travail d'équipe ", témoigne Amani, étudiant en troisième année.
- Des tandems avec un MENA (mineur étranger non accompagné) sont proposés aux étudiants, suite à une soirée informative suivie d’un speed dating avec les responsables de centres d’accueils de MENA du namurois, en vue de tisser des liens forts entre jeunes vivant des situations tellement différentes et de conscientiser les étudiants à leur réalité de citoyens susceptibles de s’engager.
- Une projection du film « Tori et Lokita » en collaboration avec le Cinéma Caméo les Grignoux de Namur a été organisée cet automne, suivie d’un débat avec le Docteur François-Xavier Polis, psychiatre ayant coaché la jeune actrice, et Madame Charlotte Braine, coordinatrice « initiative de quartier et sensibilisation » du département d’aide aux demandeurs d’asile de la Croix Rouge qui accueille des migrants à Belgrade.
Des objectifs pédagogiques multiples
« Les étudiants sont plongés dans la pratique grâce à des cas concrets en lien avec l’actualité. Côté enseignants, cela nous permet de décloisonner nos différentes matières en créant des liens entre chaque cours et activité académique dans une approche transversale. Ce Fil Rouge permet également aux étudiants de découvrir que le droit est un (bon) outil au service de valeurs, les poussant à devenir des juristes engagés », expliquent Marie Amélie Delvaux Professeure en droit judiciaire et Elise Defreyne coordinatrice pédagogique, toutes deux à l’initiative de ce projet.
À la reprise des cours en février 2023, la dynamique se renforce avec de nombreuses activités organisées autour de ce Fil Rouge :
- Mardi 14 février 2023, de 14h à 16h: intervention de Mayssoune VANDENBROUCKE, coordinatrice MENA, et Loraine CHRISPEELS, assistante sociale, toutes deux à la CROIX ROUGE dans le cours de droit de la jeunesse de Géraldine Mathieu pour aborder le parcours d’un MENA et la problématique des tests osseux pour déterminer leur majorité ou minorité.
- La poursuite des tandems étudiant/MENA en partenariat avec la Fucid (ONG de l’UNamur) et le service social de l’UNamur.
- Une exposition et un concours photo sur le thème « Sommes-nous tous des migrants ? », en collaboration avec le DELTA, occasion de laisser une trace de ce Fil sur les murs de la Faculté.
- Un match d’impro se tiendra le mercredi 19 avril 2023, à 19h00 en guise d'apothéose de cette année riche en projets.
« Cette première expérience de Fil Rouge s’avère particulièrement positive sur le plan pédagogique mais aussi sur le plan humain avec par exemple le travail collaboratif qu’elle suscite entre étudiants, professeurs, professionnels du droit et acteurs associatifs et culturels. Nous reconduirons donc cette formule l’année académique prochaine, autour d’une thématique encore à définir. Puisse aussi cette expérience, inspirer d’autres facultés », concluent Marie-Amélie Devaux et Elise Defreyne.
Our researchers in the World's Top 2% Scientists list
Our researchers in the World's Top 2% Scientists list
Stanford University has published a prestigious ranking that highlights the most influential researchers in a wide range of scientific fields. The list, based on bibliographic criteria, aims to provide a standardized means of identifying the world's scientific leaders. It is one criterion among others for assessing the quality of scientific research. Twelve researchers from the University of Namur are among them!
This list, created by Stanford University and published in August 2024 is compiled in collaboration with Elsevier's ICST lab from Scopus data, aims to provide a standardized means of identifying the world's best scientists and recognizing those scientists who have had a significant impact on their respective fields.
While this list has been adopted by many institutions as a reliable measure of research impact, it is not the only way to evaluate research. Based strictly on bibliometric data, it is also subject to criticism.
Since September 2023, the University of Namur has been strengthening its commitment to the implementation of research assessment reform with the signing of the "Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) "agreement.
This agreement commits the institution to a series of principles, including taking into account career diversity and emphasizing qualitative research criteria rather than relying solely on bibliometric (and therefore quantitative) data.
Namur University researchers honored
- Charlotte Beaudart - Faculty of Medicine, Narilis Institute
- Benoît Champagne - Faculty of Science, NISM Institute
- Alain Decrop - EMCP Faculty, NaDi-CRIDS Institute
- Olivier Deparis - Science Faculty, NISM Institute and PaTHs Institute
- Jonathan Douxfils - Faculty of Medicine, Narilis Institute
- Patrick Kestemont - Faculty of Science, ILEE Institute
- Alexandre Mayer - Faculty of Science, NISM Institute and Institut naXys
- Carine Michiels - Faculty of Science, Institut Narilis
- Antoinette Rouvroy - Faculty of Law, ESPHIN Institutes and NaDi-CRIDS Institute
- Frédéric Silvestre - Faculty of Science, ILEE Institute
- Bao-Lian Su - Faculty of Science, NISM Institute
- Johan Wouters - Faculty of Science, NISM Institute
The list is updated every year, with data on the whole career and impacts on a single year, for the sake of transparency and relevance.
The measurement criteria used
A variety of bibliometric measures are taken into account to ensure a fair and balanced representation of researchers' work.
- The C-score: this composite score is based on various bibliometric factors, including the total number of citations.
- The h-index: this impact indicator takes into account the number of a researcher's publications as well as the number of their citations.
- The percentiles of fields and subfields : scientists are classified into 22 major fields and 176 subfields. Only those who rank in the top 2% of their subfield are taken into account.
- Career-wide or single-year impact: rankings are available for both career-wide impact and single-year performance, providing a better understanding of long-term contribution and recent achievements.
Research excellence
Figuring among this top 2% of scientists is therefore a prestigious recognition of an individual's contribution to science and demonstrates the excellence of their research, enhancing their reputation in academia and industry.
The ranking offers visibility across all disciplines, drawing attention to work that might otherwise remain in a niche or be under-appreciated. It also serves as a benchmark for institutions and governments to assess the influence of their research programs.
Many institutions use the ranking to measure the success of their faculty, or other entity, which can also enhance credibility within the academic community.
This list encourages scientists to focus on producing high-quality, impactful research rather than chasing quantity.
By compiling data from all scientific fields and offering a fair, metrics-based approach, this ranking not only celebrates individual achievements, but also highlights the importance of impactful research in advancing knowledge. However, it must be qualified, as it only takes into account quantitative data, which are not necessarily representative of the full diversity of research.
According to another database, that of UNESCO, the number of researchers in the world is increasing by 300,000 per year, reaching 9 million today. The Top 2% comprises 200,000 names, including twelve researchers from the University of Namur.
Congratulations to them for their excellent research and for this prestigious worldwide recognition!
Right to identity: "Unacceptable discrimination for some children".
Right to identity: "Unacceptable discrimination for some children".
Like all human beings, children are protected by a series of rights. Géraldine Mathieu, a professor at the University of Namur, today looks at the right to identity and explains why this is still only partially respected in Belgium.
This article is taken from the "Impact" section of the June 2024 issue of Omalius magazine.
When commenting on the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, Géraldine Mathieu doesn't stop at the 12 most frequently cited rights. "As relevant as the selection made by the French Rights Defender is (see box), it is far from covering all children's rights: there's a reason why the Convention has 54 articles!
I therefore prefer to talk about the 4 pillars of the Convention, which are "the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration", the protection of the child against all forms of discrimination, regardless of, in particular, the mode of conception and the status of the parents, the right to life, survival and development, and "the right to express his or her views freely in all matters affecting him or her" and to have those views taken into account."
Discrimination
In other words, the child is a human being in his or her own right and, like all human beings, is entitled to fundamental rights, including the right to know his or her origins, in order to appropriate his or her history and forge his or her identity. "This right is protected by Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention", says Géraldine Mathieu. "And this is where Belgium practices, in my opinion, an inadmissible form of discrimination. In our country, if a child born of natural procreation wants to find out the identity of his biological father, the courts will help him to do so. In the Delphine Boël case, for example, King Albert was ordered to submit to a DNA test. For adopted children, the name of the biological mother is recorded in the birth certificate: to have access to the identity of his or her mother, the child simply needs to request a certified copy of this certificate. But this protection does not extend to children born from anonymous sperm or egg donation, as part of medically assisted procreation (MAP)."
Serial donor
In this respect, Belgium is marking time compared with many European countries, notably France, which has just lifted donor anonymity. "Obviously, the lifting of anonymity must not be confused with the establishment of legal filiation," Géraldine Mathieu points out. "In fact, almost all countries that have lifted donation anonymity have blocked all effects at the level of filiation. But children who wish to do so must be able to obtain information about their donor, at least non-identifying - what he looked like, his occupation, his personality, why he made the donation - but ideally also identifying, if only to counter the fear of an incestuous encounter with another child from the same donor... Recently, the Netherlands revealed the existence of a serial donor, who fathered over 500 children!"
Biology
In Belgium, sperm from the same donor cannot lead to the birth of children to more than six different women. "But, when the 2007 law on PMA was passed, the right to identity of children born from this technique was completely neglected", insists Géraldine Mathieu. "In fact, they have grouped together, in Belgium, within the association Donor Kinderen. These children have the right to be given back everything that makes them who they are today - their parents' wishes, of course, but also their biological origins. In the quest for identity, biology should be neither overestimated nor underestimated."
GPA
For children born of surrogate motherhood (GPA), it's not easy either to get their rights respected in general, and their right to identity in particular. "In Belgium, GPA is not prohibited as it is in France, but neither is it regulated," explains Géraldine Mathieu. "So, we tinker with common law..."Although the centers that practice GPA refuse any genetic link between the surrogate mother and the child (so she doesn't provide her oocytes), it's her name that appears on the birth certificate, and she is therefore its mother in the eyes of the law. The intended parents must then resort to adoption to formalize their relationship with their child. It is also possible for the father of intention to recognize the child, and then for the mother of intention to adopt the child. Provided the surrogate mother doesn't change her mind...
Non-trade
"This is why many couples tempted by GPA go abroad, particularly to the United States, where the surrogate mother undertakes by contract to give up the baby at birth, the intended parents being legally considered the parents," details Géraldine Mathieu. "But this is obviously a commercial relationship, with surrogacy agencies and surrogate mothers being paid. Yet a child can neither be bought nor sold: it's off the market! "In Belgium, several bills aimed at framing GPA have already been tabled. "But none of them mention the rights of the child", notes Géraldine Mathieu. "Yet, unlike adoption, whose aim is to find a family for a child who is deprived of one, GPA consists in manufacturing a child for a couple who wants one. The day we legislate to regulate it, we mustn't forget that there is no right to a child, only children's rights, and that every child has the right to know where he or she comes from."
Marie-Françoise Dispa
The 12 (main) rights of the child
Ces 12 droits, sélectionnés par le Défenseur français des droits, sont inscrits dans la Convention internationale des droits de l’enfant, adoptée par l’Assemblée générale des Nations Unies le 20 novembre 1989 :
- droit à l'égalité
- droit d'avoir une identité
- droit de vivre en famille
- droit à la santé
- droit à l'éducation et aux loisirs
- droits à la protection de la vie privée
- droit à une justice adaptée à son âge
- droit d'être protégé en temps de guerre
- droit d'être protégé contre toutes les formes de violence
- droit d'être protégé contre toutes les formes d'exploitation
- droit de s'exprimer et d'être entendu sur les questions qui le concernent
- droits de l'enfant en situation de handicap de vivre avec et comme les autres
Mais les droits de l’enfant sont beaucoup plus nombreux, comme en témoigne notamment la liste établie par la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles pour expliquer la Convention aux enfants de 3 à 6 ans.
This article is taken from the "Impact" section of Omalius magazine #33 (June 2024).
The Faculty of Law mobilizes against harassment
The Faculty of Law mobilizes against harassment
The Faculty of Law's project is to get students working together around a single theme, which will be implemented in all courses throughout the academic year. After exploring childhood and migration in its first edition, this year's Fil Rouge focuses on the theme of harassment. Following a conclusive first four months, the momentum has been stepped up for this second half of the academic year.
This theme, proposed by the students, encompasses harassment at school, at work, sexually, towards minorities... whether of a physical and/or moral nature, whether it manifests itself in person, online or otherwise. Over the course of the two terms, various courses, practical work, conferences and cultural events were organized, and several outside speakers enlightened students in various fields (cyberbullying, harassment of the elderly...). This innovative pedagogical approach bore fruit, bringing together all the students (daytime and staggered timetable) and the teaching team throughout the academic year.
A look back at some of these activities.
.A day of training with PHARE
As part of the University of Namur's PHARE program, students had the opportunity to visit the immersive "Poésie masculine" exhibition, in collaboration with the Delta. They were confronted with the experience of street harassment, in the shoes of a victim. The day continued with a screening of Caroline Pierret Pirson's film "Plus jamais silencieuse", followed by a meeting with the artist, and a conference led by Nathalie Grandjean and Stéphanie Wattier, professors at UNamur.
.Eloquence tournament
For over 20 years, the Faculty of Law has organized its traditional Tournoi d'éloquence. A perilous exercise for students, who must write a high-quality text on an imposed subject, then express themselves with ease in public for around ten minutes. Their challenge: capture the attention of the audience and the jury, express emotion with accuracy and dare to reveal themselves.
This year, students were asked to comment on Sartre's quote "L'enfer, c'est les autres" ("Hell is other people"). A quote chosen in connection with the red thread.
Six students, four in daytime and two in staggered hours, took part and were coached by Professor Benoît Michaux. At the end of their performances, three students received awards:
- Delphine Blouard - 1st prize and audience prize
- Eléonore Deplasse - 2nd prize
- Eric Dufer (HD bac) - 3rd prize
Conference on street harassment
In mid-March, a pre-event dedicated to street harassment was organized by and for students, at the initiative of the "Les Bras Droit" kot-à-projet. On the program: screening of the documentary "Femmes de la Rue" by Sofie Peeters and a discussion on the subject led by various speakers: Bertrand de Buisseret, former UNamur student and sanctioning official for the commune of Ixelles; Noémie Blaise, also a former student and now substitute for the Namur Public Prosecutor; Margot Lamy, criminologist at the Namur Public Prosecutor's Office; Sophie Navez, member of the Namur police force specializing in harassment; Coline Leclercq, UNamur Gender Contact; and Pablo Giesdorf, student delegate in charge of the issue. Over the course of the evening, male and female students had the opportunity to tackle this issue in a concrete way and to exchange views with professionals in the field, all of whom stressed the importance of interdisciplinarity in tackling this issue/topic in a comprehensive manner.
Artistic creation competition
On the initiative of and in collaboration with the Faculty of Law as part of its Fil Rouge, UNamur organized an art competition to raise awareness of harassment and the development of benevolence on campus. The competition was open to two categories of artistic creations: those by students and those by staff members. Two winners were chosen.
Third-year medical student Nour AZEGHI, active in defending all those who have no place or voice, wins the prize in her category with her work "Touche le bon". A metaphorical work that tackles the theme of harassment with sensitivity and empathy, and tends to highlight the importance of mutual support and solidarity in difficult times.
The second winner is Quentin RICHARD, a young assistant in the Faculty of Economics, Social Studies and Management. He wins the prize for his deeply sensitive and touching short story, entitled "Qui épouse protège".
Closing evening
To close these seven months of Fil Rouge in style, the Faculty of Law organized a charity improv match, pitting the Avocats du Diable team against the Salsifis com'ça team. In all, the evening reunited over €1,750 in profits for the ASBL LE RPH, an association that brings together professionals from different backgrounds to share information, practices and reflections relating to the problems of harassment in education, and to encourage exchanges between stakeholders from different sectors (education, youth, equal opportunities, health promotion, youth aid, ...) in a pluralist manner.
Once again, the projects organized throughout the academic year by the Faculty of Law, punctuated by the Fil Rouge, bear witness to an innovative and fruitful pedagogical approach. "This is a very rich experience, with many discoveries for the students, a remarkable awareness and conscientization", emphasizes Marie Amélie Delvaux, professor of judicial law and one of the project's carriers. "We're fundamentally convinced that to be a good jurist, you have to rub shoulders with reality. This can be done via field experience or internships, but you can't experience everything. I think that through reading, social involvement or even cinema and theater, we can be confronted with certain realities that enable us to complete our legal baggage", adds Élise Defreyne, educational coordinator and also project sponsor.
This year dedicated to harassment in all its forms illustrates the commitment of Law School students and professionals in the field to combating this crucial issue, demonstrating that education, awareness and collective action are the pillars of lasting social change.
And next year's Fil Rouge?
The thread that will weave its way through the Faculty of Law in 2024-2025 will be dedicated to a more inclusive and tolerant society, with the idea being that every citizen has a place in society, regardless of race, gender, social class, generation... Objective: to raise awareness of racism, LGBTQIA+, the less able, the elderly or very young, grossophobia, ... Still many motivating activities in store!!
Find out more about the Faculty of Law
Diving into the Mawda case: a unique and innovative educational project
Diving into the Mawda case: a unique and innovative educational project
This is a first in terms of pedagogical approach: to have all the students and teachers of the Faculty of law, all blocks (bachelor in daytime and in staggered timetable) and programmes combined, work for an academic year on the same theme. From courses to practical work, including conferences, cultural and artistic events and civic engagement, all the activities proposed by the Faculty of law focus on the same theme: childhood in a migratory context. The project is called "Fill rouge" (Red thread). After a successful first four months, the momentum is building for the second half of the academic year.
La thématique de cette 1ère édition du Fil Rouge : « Enfance et migration »
Elle fait référence à « l’affaire Mawda » du nom de cette petite fille de migrants kurdes âgée de 2 ans, tuée en mai 2018 par le tir d’un policier, alors que la camionnette dans laquelle elle se trouvait avec ses parents et une vingtaine de migrants était prise en chasse par la police.
Un drame qui, à ce jour, a déjà fait l’objet de trois procès dont le dernier visant la responsabilité de l’Etat belge et pour lequel un jugement est attendu tout prochainement.
Depuis septembre 2022, les cours et travaux pratiques mais aussi de nombreuses activités extra-académiques, proposés aux étudiants de droit exploitent cette thématique.
Quelques exemples
- Les étudiants ont déjà eu l’occasion de plaider lors d’un procès simulé relatif à un dossier d’accueil des migrants, suivi d’un retour critique et d’explications de l’avocat Alexis Deswaef, spécialisé dans la défense des droits humains. "Un projet novateur, enrichissant, mêlant tant la transmission de savoirs théoriques juridiques qu'une belle mise en pratique, permettant d'intégrer des soft skills nécessaires à une pratique future, quel que soit le métier du droit que l'on souhaite exercer. Avec le procès simulé, l’UNamur ouvre la voie à une vision contemporaine et innovante de l'apprentissage, entre théorie et pratique, une vision plus participative mettant l'accent sur le travail d'équipe ", témoigne Amani, étudiant en troisième année.
- Des tandems avec un MENA (mineur étranger non accompagné) sont proposés aux étudiants, suite à une soirée informative suivie d’un speed dating avec les responsables de centres d’accueils de MENA du namurois, en vue de tisser des liens forts entre jeunes vivant des situations tellement différentes et de conscientiser les étudiants à leur réalité de citoyens susceptibles de s’engager.
- Une projection du film « Tori et Lokita » en collaboration avec le Cinéma Caméo les Grignoux de Namur a été organisée cet automne, suivie d’un débat avec le Docteur François-Xavier Polis, psychiatre ayant coaché la jeune actrice, et Madame Charlotte Braine, coordinatrice « initiative de quartier et sensibilisation » du département d’aide aux demandeurs d’asile de la Croix Rouge qui accueille des migrants à Belgrade.
Des objectifs pédagogiques multiples
« Les étudiants sont plongés dans la pratique grâce à des cas concrets en lien avec l’actualité. Côté enseignants, cela nous permet de décloisonner nos différentes matières en créant des liens entre chaque cours et activité académique dans une approche transversale. Ce Fil Rouge permet également aux étudiants de découvrir que le droit est un (bon) outil au service de valeurs, les poussant à devenir des juristes engagés », expliquent Marie Amélie Delvaux Professeure en droit judiciaire et Elise Defreyne coordinatrice pédagogique, toutes deux à l’initiative de ce projet.
À la reprise des cours en février 2023, la dynamique se renforce avec de nombreuses activités organisées autour de ce Fil Rouge :
- Mardi 14 février 2023, de 14h à 16h: intervention de Mayssoune VANDENBROUCKE, coordinatrice MENA, et Loraine CHRISPEELS, assistante sociale, toutes deux à la CROIX ROUGE dans le cours de droit de la jeunesse de Géraldine Mathieu pour aborder le parcours d’un MENA et la problématique des tests osseux pour déterminer leur majorité ou minorité.
- La poursuite des tandems étudiant/MENA en partenariat avec la Fucid (ONG de l’UNamur) et le service social de l’UNamur.
- Une exposition et un concours photo sur le thème « Sommes-nous tous des migrants ? », en collaboration avec le DELTA, occasion de laisser une trace de ce Fil sur les murs de la Faculté.
- Un match d’impro se tiendra le mercredi 19 avril 2023, à 19h00 en guise d'apothéose de cette année riche en projets.
« Cette première expérience de Fil Rouge s’avère particulièrement positive sur le plan pédagogique mais aussi sur le plan humain avec par exemple le travail collaboratif qu’elle suscite entre étudiants, professeurs, professionnels du droit et acteurs associatifs et culturels. Nous reconduirons donc cette formule l’année académique prochaine, autour d’une thématique encore à définir. Puisse aussi cette expérience, inspirer d’autres facultés », concluent Marie-Amélie Devaux et Elise Defreyne.