Country report and updates: Belgium

The main
form of advertising for a career in the Belgian Armed Forces is via
advertisements in public spaces, such as buses and railway stations,
and in magazines and newspapers. In addition, the Armed Forces
organise a range of so-called “open days” to attract interest
from especially young people.

The
Armed Forces maintain 'Defensiehuizen' (recruitment offices) in
several Belgian cities, who mainly target people who already have
some professional training for non-commissioned officer and officer
positions.

According
to the Belgian Ministry of Defence, the recruitment target for 2008
was set at 1,700, while the target in previous years has been around
1,500. Generally, the military did not meet these targets in the last
years.

Additionally,
the military aims to recruit young people on a contract basis for
5-10 years³.

Conscientious
objection

Conscientious objection for conscripts

Legal basis

Although nobody is presently being
called up for military service, conscripts still have the right to
conscientious objection⁴.

The 1980 Law on Conscientious Objection is now obsolete. On 31 December 1992 it was amended so that it became applicable only to conscripts drafted in 1993 and earlier.

Conscientious objection for professional soldiers

There is no right to conscientious
objection for professional soldiers. According to Article 52 of the
Law for professional soldiers⁵,
soldiers can “request” their dismissal at any time, but such a
request can be rejected when it conflicts with service requirements.
Paragraph 3 of this article lists situations in which such a request
more or less automatically conflicts with service requirements:

• when the soldier has so far
  served for less than three years following military training;

  
  

• in times of crisis;

  
  

• in times of mobilisation;

  
  

• in times of war;

  
  

• in peace time when the
  soldiers' unit is on operation, or prepares for an operation.

  
  

In fact, in situations where it would
be most likely that a conflict of conscience might arise, it is most
difficult to leave the Armed Forces prematurely.

Draft evasion and desertion

Desertion is punished with military
prison from two months to two years, according to Article 43 and following of the
Military Penal Code (Militair Strafwetboek) from 1870⁶.
Information on practice is not available.

The question of draft evasion does
not arise as there is presently no conscription.

Footnotes