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The Netherlands Netherlands: Court Rules Pre-Entry Integration Exam Unlawful Government Should Suspend Discriminatory Test Targeting non-Western Migrants 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. July 17, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Open Letter to the Dutch Government on the Civic Examination Abroad We are writing in reaction to two letters, sent in your name and the name of the State Secretary of Justice to the Chairperson of the Lower Chamber on June 17, 2008. The letters were prompted by questions to the government from members of parliament Boris van der Ham (D66) and Sadet Karabulut (SP) regarding our recent briefing paper on the Netherlands—“Discrimination in the Name of Integration,” requesting an official response to the paper. July 16, 2008 Letter Also available in
Printer friendly version Netherlands: Discrimination in the Name of Integration Overseas Integration Test Infringes on Rights of Migrants 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. May 15, 2008 Press Release Also available in
Printer friendly version The Netherlands: Discrimination in the Name of Integration Migrants’ Rights under the Integration Abroad Act In the past years, the authorities in the Netherlands have introduced a series of measures with the stated aim of better integrating its migrant population. One of these measures is the integration test administered to would-be family migrants from some countries before they can join spouses or family members in the Netherlands. This report documents how the overseas integration test is discriminatory, in that citizens from certain countries are exempt altogether, and the test, coupled with increased financial requirements, targets primarily would-be family migrants from two of the three largest “non- western” migrant communities in the Netherlands – Moroccans and Turks. May 15, 2008 Background Briefing UN: Mixed Results for New Review Process States Avoid Serious Discussion of Rights in Algeria, Tunisia 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. April 18, 2008 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Human Rights Council Begins Universal Periodic Review Will Assess India, the Philippines, South Africa, the United Kingdom and 12 Others 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. April 6, 2008 Memorandum Printer friendly version Fifth Meeting of the EU Network of Contact Points on Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Letter to Heads of Delegations to the Article 36 Committee We are writing in advance of the upcoming Article 36 Committee meeting in Brussels, at which you will discuss the EU Network of contact points in respect of persons responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes (EU Network). With this letter, the undersigned organizations wish to share their assessment of the EU Network’s achievements to date and urge the Article 36 Committee to support the strengthening of the EU Network, notably through the creation of a permanent secretariat. April 1, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Letter Commending Dutch Position on SAA with Serbia We are writing this public letter to commend your government’s principled stand in refusing to sign the Stabilization Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia in the absence of its full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). We also appreciate your government’s clear definition of full cooperation with the Yugoslav tribunal: Serbia must hand over the remaining fugitives to the ICTY before the European Union (EU) will sign the SAA. February 12, 2008 Letter Printer friendly version Human Rights Watch Receives Geuzen Medal 2007 Award for Work to Expose and End Human Rights Abuses Worldwide 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. March 13, 2007 Press Release Printer friendly version Dutch Foundation Honors Human Rights Watch Jan Pronk to Present Geuzen Medal 2007 on Tuesday, March 13 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.” March 5, 2007 Press Release Printer friendly version Geuzen Medal 2007 for Human Rights Watch 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. February 23, 2007 Press Release Printer friendly version Netherlands: Asylum Rights Granted to Lesbian and Gay Iranians 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. October 19, 2006 Press Release Printer friendly version Netherlands: No Deportations of LGBT Iranians to Torture Letter to Immigration Minister Vedonk On behalf of Human Rights Watch, I am writing with regard to the existing moratorium on the deportation of gay and lesbian asylum-seekers to Iran--and to urge you in the strongest possible terms not to resume such deportations. October 9, 2006 Letter Printer friendly version Netherlands, Sweden: Bar Deportations to Torture in Iran Officials Must Not Return Gay and Lesbian Asylum Seekers to Iran As the Netherlands mulls resuming deportations of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender asylum seekers back to Iran, and Sweden begins such deportations again, both European governments must adhere to their international legal obligations not to send people back to the risk of torture, Human Rights Watch said today. October 9, 2006 Press Release Printer friendly version Europe: Shrinking Safe Haven for War Criminals ‘Universal Jurisdiction’ Prosecutions Bring Justice for Victims Prosecutors in Europe are using the concept of universal jurisdiction to pursue foreign war criminals in national courts, a strategy that is gaining momentum across the continent and should be expanded, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The theory is that some crimes are so horrendous that they should be tried regardless of the geography of victims and perpetrators. June 28, 2006 Press Release Also available in 
Printer friendly version Charles Taylor: Hague Trial Must Be Accessible to West Africans Former Liberian President Arrives in the Netherlands for War Crimes Trial With the transfer of Charles Taylor to The Hague for trial, the U.N.-backed war crimes court for Sierra Leone and its donors must ensure that the former Liberian president’s trial remains accessible to the people of West Africa, Human Rights Watch said today in a briefing paper. June 20, 2006 Press Release Printer friendly version Trying Charles Taylor in The Hague Making Justice Accessible to Those Most Affected On March 29, 2006 former Liberian President Charles Taylor was surrendered to the U.N.-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone. Taylor’s surrender for trial provides an extraordinary opportunity for the people of Sierra Leone and West Africa to see justice done for atrocities committed during Sierra Leone’s armed conflict since 1996. Taylor is indicted by the Special Court on war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian law primarily for his role in supporting the main rebel group in Sierra Leone, the Revolutionary United Front, during the conflict. June 16, 2006 Background Briefing Printer friendly version No Guidelines on Empty ‘No Torture’ Promises Council of Europe Rejects Minimum Standards for Diplomatic Assurances A Council of Europe expert group has rightly decided not to develop guidelines for the acceptable use of diplomatic assurances to justify sending people to places where they are at risk of torture, Human Rights Watch said today. April 3, 2006 Press Release Printer friendly version Commentary on State Replies CDDH Questionnaire on Diplomatic Assurances Human Rights Watch welcomes the Council of Europe’s Group of Specialists on Human Rights and the Fight against Terrorism (DH-S-TER) reflection and continuing debate on the human rights implications of the use of diplomatic assurances in transfers of terrorism suspects to places where they are at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. The objections of Human Rights Watch and a range of international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to the use of diplomatic assurances are detailed in two joint statements already submitted to the Council of Europe for consideration in the course of this debate. March 29, 2006 Commentary Netherlands: Threat to Return Gay and Lesbian Iranians HRW Letter to Minister Verdonk On behalf of Human Rights Watch, I am writing to protest your proposal to lift the existing moratorium on the deportation of gay and lesbian asylum seekers to Iran--and to object in the strongest possible terms to any actual resumption of expulsions of gay and lesbian asylum seekers to Iran. March 8, 2006 Letter Printer friendly version |
 
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