The existence of communities speaking Dutch, French, and German engenders significant complexities for the State. All major institutions, including political parties, are divided along linguistic lines. National decisions take into account the specific needs of each regional and linguistic group. Each regional parliament elects from among its members a regional government, including a regional prime minister. Section 4 Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations of Human Rights Numerous human rights groups operate without government restriction, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases.
Government officials are very cooperative and responsive to their views.
The law prohibits discrimination based on the listed factors, and the Government enforces it. With Dutch, French, and German as official languages, Belgium has a complex linguistic regime, including language requirements for various elected and appointed positions. The Government actively promotes a comprehensive approach to the integration of women at all levels of decision making. The Division of Equal Opportunity, a part of the Ministry of Labor, focuses specifically on issues affecting women, including violence against women, sexual harassment, and the participation of women in the political process. The law prohibits physical abuse of women, and the Government enforces this ban.