The Charter of Road Traffic Victims’ Rights has received strong backing in Belgium as both the Bureau belge des Assureurs Automobiles | Belgisch Bureau van de Autoverzekeraars (BBAA-BBAV) and the Fonds Commun de Garantie belge | Belgisch Gemeenschappelijk Waarborgfonds (FCGB-BGWF), become official supporters.
BBAA-BBAV is the Belgian Green Card Bureau. It was founded in 1957 to compensate for damage caused in Belgium by vehicles normally based abroad. It carries out its missions within the international framework known as the Green Card system.
FCGB-BGWF is the Belgian Guarantee Fund, also founded in 1957. Its particular missions are determined by the legislation concerning compulsory third party liability motor insurance and by the legislation concerning compensation of victims of technological accidents of major importance. FCGB-BGWF serves as both the Compensation Body and the Insolvency Body in Belgium. The Belgian Motor insurance Information Center (BMIC) is also organized within its structure.
Both organisations become the latest members of COB to become official supporters of the Charter, with more COB members expected to follow soon.
Speaking about the decision to become official supporters of the Charter, a statement jointly issued by BBAA-BBAV & FCGB-BGWF stated, “While we have previously supported victims’ rights through national legislative and sectoral initiatives, the BBAA-BBAV and FCGB-BGWF believe it is equally important to express that commitment on the international stage. That’s what the Charter accomplishes and why we see it as important that organisations involved in the MTPL sector offer their public support to the Charter and its ideals.
“By endorsing the Charter for Road Traffic Victims’ Rights, we reaffirm our commitment to justice and recognition for all victims, across all borders. We want Belgian victims of road traffic accidents to know those values will apply to them at home and abroad, as well as those who come from abroad who might suffer a road traffic accident while in Belgium. These are ideals that should apply universally and we are honoured to be added to the list of official supporters,” the statement from BBAA-BBAV and FCGB-BGWF concluded.
Providing such “justice and recognition” for the victims of road traffic accidents is exactly what the Charter sets out to achieve. The series of 10 ideals contained within the Charter were drawn up by COB, the Institute for European Traffic Law (IETL) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) with precisely that objective in mind. The Charter aims to help ensure the victims of road traffic accidents receive the best possible assistance when they need it.
