A separate counter-demonstration of around 1,000 people, organised by left-wing groups and non-governmental organisations, took place in the city centre. Michel had secured a large parliamentary majority in favour of maintaining Belgium’s support of the UN text, with support from the opposition socialists and greens. The UN pact was agreed in July by all 193 UN members except the United States, but only 164 formally signed it at the meeting last Monday. Ten countries, mostly in formerly Communist Eastern Europe, have pulled out of the non-binding pact. With a record 21.3 million refugees globally, the United Nations began work on the pact after more than one million people arrived in Europe in 2015, many fleeing civil war in Syria and poverty in Africa.

Source: bd News24 December 16, 2018 14:26 UTC