The Dutch government should suspend its discriminatory “integration test abroad” – an exam on Dutch language and society – that is required for family migrants from some non-Western countries following a July 15 court ruling that the test is unlawful, Human Rights Watch said today.

The Netherlands should abolish the overseas “integration test” that discriminatorily targets only migrants of certain nationalities trying to join their families, while citizens from other, “western” countries are exempt, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today. People of Moroccan and Turkish origin – two of the three largest “non-western” migrant communities in the Netherlands – have been especially affected.

The first session of the new country review mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council was undermined by inconsistencies and the timidity of some governments in reviewing others, Human Rights Watch said today. On April 18, 2008 the council concluded a two-week session in which it examined the records of 16 countries as part of the new Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process.

The UN Human Rights Council will begin a new review process on April 7, 2008. The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is the most innovative and ambitious instrument of the council and was set up to assess the human rights performance of all 192 UN member states over a four-year cycle.

The Geuzen Medal, established by the Geuzen Resistance 1940–1945 Foundation (Stichting Geuzenverzet 1940-45) in honor of the Geuzen Dutch resistance to the Nazis, was presented to Human Rights Watch today at a ceremony in Vlaardingen, The Netherlands. In accepting the award, given for its work in exposing rights violations and pushing for action to end abuses, Human Rights Watch urged the Dutch government to take a lead in protecting human rights worldwide.

The Geuzen Resistance Foundation, an organization set up by Dutch resistance veterans who fought the Nazi occupation, will present its highest honor to Human Rights Watch for its work in responding to human rights abuses and “its remarkable effectiveness in achieving results.”

The Geuzen Medal 2007 goes to the international human rights organisation Human Rights Watch. The Geuzen Medal will be presented in Vlaardingen on Tuesday 13 March.

In a major policy shift, the Dutch government’s recognition that lesbian and gay Iranians are a “special group” facing persecution at home and deserving protection in the Netherlands sets an example for other European states of their legal responsibility not to return people to the risk of torture, ill-treatment or execution, Human Rights Watch said today.