ECRI, ECRI Conclusions on the implementation of the recommendations in respect of NETHERLANDS subject to interim follow-up Adopted on 17 March 2016
Country
Netherlands
Title
Year
Type of publication
Geographical coverage
National
Area/location of interest
Type of Institution
Council of Europe body
Institution
Main Thematic Focus
Racism & xenophobia Discrimination Ethnic profiling
Target Population
Muslims Migrants Ethnic minorities People with migrant background Refugees & asylum seekers
Key findings
The authorities have informed ECRI that they are not in favour of introducing a provision in the criminal law to the effect that a racist motive constitutes a specific aggravating circumstance in sentencing.
The National Action Programme on Discrimination comprised activities to combat racial discrimination in the labour market, improve the relations between police and various vulnerable groups of concern to ECRI, and monitoring Islamophobia. The authorities are currently in the process of preparing a new action
programme on discrimination which will have a stronger focus on discrimination based on religion, descent and colour, in order to combat Islamophobia, antisemitism and discrimination against people of
African descent.However, ECRI notes that these were part of a general anti-discrimination programme and that no national strategy exists specifically to address racism
and racial discrimination. Furthermore, the government still leaves a large share of the responsibility to prevent and
combat racism and racial discrimination to local authorities. W
Methodology (Qualitative/Quantitative and exact type used, questionnaires etc)
The working methods for the preparation of the reports involve documentary analyses, a visit to the country concerned, and then a confidential dialogue with the national authorities.
Sample details and representativeness
ECRI’s reports are analyses based on a great deal of information gathered from a wide variety of sources.