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Codification and Implementation of Human Rights in the Netherlands

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Codification in International Perspective

Part of the book series: Ius Comparatum - Global Studies in Comparative Law ((GSCL,volume 1))

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Abstract

The Charter of the Kingdom of the Netherlands forms the legal basis for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of three countries: The Netherlands (Europe), The Netherlands Antilles, and Aruba. These countries are autonomous in their internal affairs. The current report specifically addresses the codification of human rights in the Netherlands, the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The Netherlands is a democratic country governed by the rule of law. Human rights are therefore very important in Dutch society. At the same time, the influence of international human rights bodies on Dutch society has recently been a topic of debate in light of national sovereignty.

In this report, a description will first be provided of the fundamental rights codified in the Constitution, including their nature, content, and scope of application. Subsequently, human rights that are transformed in other Dutch laws will be touched upon. Thereafter, a short account is given of the regional and international human rights obligations of the Netherlands, and how these relate to the rights codified in national legal sources. Then, an overview is provided of the domestic mechanisms in place to enforce and monitor human rights. This concerns judicial as well as non-judicial mechanisms. Furthermore, the influence of international and European law on the treatment of fundamental rights in the Netherlands is examined, considering the most recent reports of United Nations bodies and case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Lastly, the rights of non-citizens are addressed in light of the developments in national and international law.

Ida Lintel, LL.M. is currently studying Dutch Law at Utrecht University and Dr. Marthe Lot Vermeulen, is a trainee judge at the Amsterdam District Court. This contribution is written in their personal capacity.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Kortmann CAJM, Bovend’Eert PPT (1993) Dutch Constitutional Law. Kluwer Law International, The Hague, p. 136.

  2. 2.

    Kortmann & Bovend’Eert (2000), p. 153.

  3. 3.

    Annex to Handelingen II 1975/76, 13 872, no. 3, p. 38.

  4. 4.

    Kortmann & Bovend’Eert (2000), p. 155.

  5. 5.

    Kortmann & Bovend’Eert (2000), p. 156.

  6. 6.

    Bunschoten DE (2009) Tekst en Commentaar Grondwet, commentaar op hoofdstuk 1 Gw. Kluwer Navigator.

  7. 7.

    See Articles 1, 5, 7(1) and 114 of the Dutch Constitution, respectively.

  8. 8.

    Besselink LFM (2004) Constitutional law of the Netherlands: an introduction with texts, cases and materials. Ars Aequi Libri, Nijmegen, p. 156. See also case law in which limitations were allowed in the absence of a constitutional limitation clause: HR, 11 February 1986, NJ 1986, 673, (Drukkerij); Vzngr ARRvS 16 February 1989, AB 1990, 9 (Evangeliegemeente De Deur).

  9. 9.

    Kortmann & Bovend’Eert (2000), p. 147.

  10. 10.

    See e.g. HR 2 February 1990, nr. 13 727 (interim injunction proceedings) (Goeree and Van Manschot v. Van Zijl).

  11. 11.

    HR, 18 June 1993, RvdW 1993, 136.

  12. 12.

    Explanatory memorandum, Kamerstukken II 1975/76, 13 872, no. 3, pp. 11 and 12.

  13. 13.

    Ibid., p. 11.

  14. 14.

    Handelingen II 1985/86 (6 februari 1986), p. 3163.

  15. 15.

    HR, 4 maart 1988, para. 3.5, NJ 1989, 361 (Borbon Parma) m.nt. C.J.H. Brunner.

  16. 16.

    Article 8(a) of the International Crimes Act; Dutch Enforced Disappearance Convention Implementation Act (2010). See similarly, Dutch Torture Convention Implementation Act (1989).

  17. 17.

    Equal Treatment Act (AWGB) (2 March 1994).

  18. 18.

    Translation found in Alkema EA (2010) International Law in Domestic Systems. EJCL 14–3:1–22, at p. 2.

  19. 19.

    Kamerstukken II (2007–2008), 29 861, no. 19, p. 3 and footnote 1 (noting that the distinction between ‘monist’ systems and ‘dualist’ systems, which is a distinction that originates in academic debate, touches upon the extent to which international law has to be transformed into national law before it has legal effect).

  20. 20.

    Alkema (2010), p. 1.

  21. 21.

    The way in which treaties and resolutions by international organizations have to be published is laid down by Act of Parliament in accordance with Article 95 of the Constitution. The Tractatenblad is the official place for publication in the Netherlands.

  22. 22.

    The text of Article 120 of the Constitution reads: ‘The constitutionality of Acts of Parliament and treaties shall not be reviewed by the courts’.

  23. 23.

    Van Empel M, De Jong M (2002) Constitution, International Treaties, Contracts and Torts. EJCL 6–4: 283–305.

  24. 24.

    HR, 14 April 1989, AB 1989, 207. See also HR, 6 March 1959, NJ 1962, 2 (Nyugat zaak).

  25. 25.

    HR, 4 June 1982, NJ 1983, 32; HR, 1 July 1983, NJ 1984, 161 and CRvB, 14 May 1987, AB 1987, 543.

  26. 26.

    HR, 16 May 1986, NJ 1987, 251 (Sproeivliegtuigen); Rapport Staatscommissie Grondrechten (2010), available at available at www.staatscommissiegrondwet.nl, p. 43.

  27. 27.

    Voorstel van wet van het lid Halsema tot verandering in de Grondwet, strekkende tot invoering van de bevoegdheid tot toetsing van wetten aan een aantal bepalingen van de Grondwet door de rechter, Kamerstuk 34332 (2010).

  28. 28.

    HR, 7 May 1986 (NS/FNV), NJ 1986, 688, para. 3.2.

  29. 29.

    Direct effect may result in two different situations in the relationship between the state and the individual. On the one hand there are cases in which provisions providing rights for individuals or groups of individuals are invoked before the national courts, see e.g. HR, 21 March 1986, NJ 1986, 585. On the other hand there are cases concerning treaties imposing obligations on individuals (e.g. international crimes) or on states, see e.g. RvS, 30 December 1993, AB 1995, no. 24 (Zwiers v. Provincial Executive of Gelderland). For a discussion on this distinction, see Van Empel & De Jong (2002), p. 296.

  30. 30.

    Alkema (2010), pp. 7 and 8; Rapport Staatscommissie Grondrechten (2010), p. 131; Van Empel & De Jong (2002), p. 295.

  31. 31.

    Alkema (2010), pp. 7 and 8.

  32. 32.

    Alkema (2010), p. 8.

  33. 33.

    HR, 30 mei 1986, NJ 1986, 688 (Collectieve acties Spoorwegen).

  34. 34.

    HR, 20 April 1990, NJ 1992, 636 (Hoogenraad/ZWO).

  35. 35.

    The Central Appeals Tribunal is the highest judicial authority mainly active in legal areas pertaining to social security and the civil service.

  36. 36.

    CRvB, 29 mei 1996, RVS 1997/9 (Eigen bijdrage kraamzorg).

  37. 37.

    CRvB, 18 June 2004, JB 2004, 303.

  38. 38.

    Alkema (2010), pp. 11 and 12.

  39. 39.

    Alkema (2010), p. 3.

  40. 40.

    Kamerstukken II (2007–2008), 29 861, no. 19, p. 5.

  41. 41.

    Alkema (2010), p. 7.

  42. 42.

    Van Empel & De Jong (2002), p. 294.

  43. 43.

    www.rechtspraak.nl/English/Judicial-System.

  44. 44.

    Van Empel & De Jong (2002), p. 300.

  45. 45.

    Ibid.

  46. 46.

    Klip A, Van der Wilt H (2002) Netherlands’ report for the International Association of Penal Law on Ne bis in idem. Revue Internationale de Droit Pénal 73: 1091–1137.

  47. 47.

    The Institute was established by an Act of Parliament of 24 November 2011 (Wet College voor de rechten van de mens).

  48. 48.

    National Ombudsman Act, Article 12.

  49. 49.

    Ibid., Article 15.

  50. 50.

    Ibid., Article 26.

  51. 51.

    Ibid., Article 27.

  52. 52.

    http://www.nationaleombudsman.nl.

  53. 53.

    Human Rights Committee, UN Doc. CCPR/C/NLD/CO/4 (30 July 2009), para. 7.

  54. 54.

    Ibid.

  55. 55.

    Ministry of Justice, Reactie op the aanbevelingen van het VN comité inzake burgerlijke en politieke rechten, 15 October 2009.

  56. 56.

    Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, UN Doc. E/C.12/NLD/CO/4-5 (19 November 2010), paras. 21(a) and 25(a), respectively.

  57. 57.

    Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (2011) Kabinetsreactie op de conclusies van het verdragscomité van het VN verdrag inzake economische, sociale en culturele rechten, 1 June 2011, IZ/IA/2011/8390.

  58. 58.

    Committee on the Rights of the Child, UN Doc. CRC/C/NLD/CO/3 (27 March 2009), para. 8.

  59. 59.

    National Ombudsman Act, chap. IIa, Articles 11 (a)–(e).

  60. 60.

    Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, UN Doc. CERD/C/NLD/CO/17-18, para. 8.

  61. 61.

    Minister Rosenthal (2011) Beantwoording vragen van het lid Timmermans. 3 October 2011, DMH-MR/499/11.

  62. 62.

    Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, UN Doc. CEDAW/C/NLD/CO/5 (5 February 2010), para. 33.

  63. 63.

    ECtHR [GC], Salduz v. Turkey 27 November 2008 (Appl. no. 36391/02), para. 55.

  64. 64.

    For an overview see Van de Laar T (2012) Het consultatierecht en afstand van recht. Een bespreking van de rechtspraak van het EHRM en diverse wetgevingsinitiatieven. NJ (3): 178–184.

  65. 65.

    Loof JP, Van Emmerik M et al (2011) Mensenrechten-actualiteiten.nl. NJCM-Bulletin 36(1): 93.

  66. 66.

    HR, 30 juni 2009, NJ 2009, 349, para. 2.5. See also HR, 10 januari 2012, RvdW 2012, 128.

  67. 67.

    This draft proposal is available at www.internetconsultatie.nl/rechtsbijstandpolitieverhoor.

  68. 68.

    ECtHR [GC], Sanoma Uitgevers B.V. v. the Netherlands 14 September 2010 (Appl. no. 38224/03), paras. 96–100.

  69. 69.

    ECtHR, Voskuil v. the Netherlands 22 November 2007 (Appl no. 64752/01).

  70. 70.

    www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten-en-publicaties/persberichten/2010/09/15/reactie-op-uitspraak-in-de-zaak-sanoma.html.

  71. 71.

    www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten-en-publicaties/kamerstukken/2012/02/06/wetsvoorstel-algemeen-verbod-op-gelaatsbedekkende-kleding.html.

  72. 72.

    Weissbrodt D, Meili S (2010) Human Rights and Protection of Non-Citizens: Whither Universality and Indivisibility of Rights? Refugee Survey Quarterly 28(4): p. 34.

  73. 73.

    Ibid., p. 37.

  74. 74.

    See Articles 3, 4, 19(3) of the Dutch Constitution, respectively.

  75. 75.

    Article 20(3) of the Dutch Constitution.

  76. 76.

    Convention relating to the Status Refugees; Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees; Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness; Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons; UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime; Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime; Protocol against the smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime; Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

  77. 77.

    Human Rights Committee, UN Doc. CCPR/C/NLD/CO/4 (30 July 2009), para. 9.

  78. 78.

    http://english.justitie.nl/currenttopics/pressreleases/archives-2010/100518new-asylum-procedure-in-force-on-1-july.aspx?cp=35&cs=1578.

  79. 79.

    Committee on the Rights of the Child, UN Doc. CRC/C/NLD/CO/3 (27 March 2009), para. 68.

  80. 80.

    http://www.detention-in-europe.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=295:netherlands-no-children-in-detention&catid=3:newsflash.

  81. 81.

    ECtHR, A v. Netherlands 20 July 2010 (Appl. no. 4900/06); ECtHR, Mawaka v. The Netherlands 1 June 2010 (Appl. no. 29031/04).

  82. 82.

    See e.g., Burgerrechten, inaugural speech by Prof. E.M.H. Hirsch Ballin, University of Amsterdam 2011, available at http://www.oratiereeks.nl/upload/pdf/PDF-3821Oratie_Hirsch_Ballin.pdf.

  83. 83.

    CRvB, 15 juli 2011, JB 2011/202.

  84. 84.

    Ibid., paras. 4.13 and 4.14.

  85. 85.

    CRvB, 4 August 2011, RSV 2011/341, paras. 4.2 and 4.4.

  86. 86.

    Hirsch Ballin (2011), p. 26 [translation by the authors].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Former intern at the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights, Achter Sint Pieter 200, 3512, Utrecht, HT, The Netherlands

    Prof. Ida Lintel

  2. Former staff member of the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights, Achter Sint Pieter 200, 3512, Utrecht, HT, The Netherlands

    Prof. Marthe Lot Vermeulen

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Correspondence to Ida Lintel .

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  1. College of Law, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Wen-Yeu Wang

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Lintel, I., Vermeulen, M. (2014). Codification and Implementation of Human Rights in the Netherlands. In: Wang, WY. (eds) Codification in International Perspective. Ius Comparatum - Global Studies in Comparative Law, vol 1. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03455-3_16

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