Belgium: racism rages through e-mail, text messages and forums Reported incidents of cyber-hatred have gone up by 136% according to the Belgian centre for equality CECLR. The centre's activity report for 2007, which describes the state of affairs on discrimination and diversity in the country, was published on Thursday 26 June and points to wide-spread use of the internet and mobile telephony in the spread of racist messages.

An important change in Belgian legislation last year, described as being the European leader against racism, may well account for the increase in reporting. The aim the centre has set for itself is to spearhead an international response to counter cyber-hatred by working closely with partners in the Netherlands and France through Child Focus.

Underlining that legislation and reporting are not enough, Edouard Delruelle and Jozef De Witte, directors of the centre, are looking to a change of mind-set and awareness through joint action.

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