A/HRC/43/48/Add.1
discrimination policy at municipal levels; 23 and programmes that engage new arrivals, 24
including young people,25 as they adjust to circumstances that will ultimately shape their
experiences and identities.26
31.
Online tools and training courses have been developed for students and teachers to
tackle discrimination facing students.27 Myriad programmes and events have been launched,
aimed at fostering dialogue and trust between the State and religious or belief communities
at the national and local levels; 28 fostering safe places for the manifestation of religious
beliefs; and raising awareness about discrimination. 29 In addition, initiatives for combating
discrimination involving religion or belief through the fostering of empathy and literacy
about the different religions that inform the values and experiences of all Dutch people are
being promoted 30 among religious actors and local officials working in multireligious
contexts. The Building Bridges programme, which endeavours to establish local networks
of religious community members to work on solving tensions between religious and belief
communities in the country, has led to local interfaith cooperation in Enschede and
Leeuwarden on tackling common issues facing religious and belief communities in the
country. In 2019, the Government decided to extend this programme to other municipalities.
32.
A strong civil society has also advanced numerous grass-roots initiatives for
fostering trust and inclusivity among and between religious and belief communities in the
country. Initiatives like the Security Pact Against Discrimination, 31 aimed at fostering
solidarity among communities in the aftermath of incidents aimed at inciting hostility,
discrimination and violence, have been integral to combating the fear, frustration and
humiliation endured by these groups.
V. Implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination of All
Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on
Religion or Belief
33.
The provisions of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance
and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, proclaimed by the General Assembly in
1981, are being implemented in the Netherlands by way of the above-mentioned laws,
policies, programmes and practices being advanced by the Government and civil society.
Like many mature democracies, however, the Netherlands is working to achieve a learning
curve generated by new challenges posed by periodic demographic shifts and the
accompanying political, social and economic pressures engendered by these changes.
Central to a preponderance of the challenges facing the Government’s capacity to
effectively promote and protect the full enjoyment by everyone of the right to freedom of
thought, conscience, and religion or belief is the manifestation of discriminatory attitudes
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
See https://kennisopenbaarbestuur.nl/media/255636/handreiking-antidiscriminatiebeleidgemeenten.pdf and www.kis.nl/.
See http://dander.nl/welkom-in-mijn-wijk/.
See www.kis.nl/jongeren-weerbaar-een-overzichtspagina and
www.mindmix.nl/index.php?content=openyourmind.
See https://controlealtdelete.nl/tools.
See www.zeteenstreepdoordiscriminatie.nl/wie-doen-mee/campagne-onderwijs#_blank.
In 2017, the Consultative Council of Turks in the Netherlands led work to decrease prejudice and
stereotyping and strengthen Turkish and Jewish community relations. The Levensbeschouwing
Religion Platform provides a crucial space for deepening respect and understanding between
members of the public from different religious and philosophical life stances. See https://platformgroningen.nl/.
The 2015–2018 Cross-Out Discrimination campaign encouraged local anti-discrimination
engagement and generated websites for reporting discrimination (discriminatie.nl) and for providing
steps to tackle discrimination (zeteenstreepdoordiscriminatie.nl).
The Government, for example, consulted soccer associations, local authorities, police officials and the
Public Prosecutor’s Office, in conjunction with the Anne Frank Foundation, in its development of
strategies for countering antisemitic chanting, salutes and other behaviour directed against religious
groups during soccer matches, and supports programmes that promote religious literacy.
See for example, Janene Peters (NL Times), “Extra security at Amsterdam mosque after Quebec
shooting”, 3 February 2017.
9