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MEDIA RELEASE |
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Communications |
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Ref. DC 180(2023) Minority rights in the Netherlands are generally well respected for the Frisian minority but could be extended to other communities Strasbourg, 24.08.2023 – The minority rights of the Frisian minority in the Netherlands are generally well protected, say Council of Europe experts, but they are too often limited to the province of Fryslân (Friesland). The protection granted by the Council of Europe’s national minorities convention should also be applied to other interested groups – notably Roma and Sinti, Woonwagenbewoners (Dutch Travellers) and Papiamentu-speakers in the European part of the Netherlands. Moreover, the general climate of tolerance and understanding in the country is under strain. These are among the main findings of the latest opinion on the Netherlands by the Council of Europe’s Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (see the summary of the opinion in Dutch) The Advisory Committee welcomes significant investments in the province of Fryslân by both the central authorities and the provincial government – in particular in the fields of education, language and culture – as well as the clear definition of the authorities’ respective competences in this area. Nevertheless, the committee notes that the general lack of teachers in the Netherlands particularly affects the Frisian language and the limited opportunities for accessing Frisian language rights at all levels of education – including pre-school and university – is a concern. The committee also highlights the vulnerable position of the Frisian broadcaster Omrop Fryslân, notably in the context of announced budget cuts as of 2024. It expects more concrete actions, as soon as possible, to boost the visibility of the Frisian language in both the public and private sectors, as well as a more systematic display of bilingual signs in the province of Fryslân. In addition, the committee regrets that Roma and Sinti people, as well as Woonwagenbewoner communities, are still not specifically protected by the Framework Convention, despite experiencing ethnic profiling and discrimination in many areas, including housing and accommodation. Highly decentralised housing policy has led to double standards and unequal treatment regarding caravans and caravan pitches in particular. The committee welcomes the government’s intention to adopt a more centralised, coherent and co-ordinated approach to this issue. More generally, despite some policy developments in the fight against antigypsyism, the committee notes that xenophobic and racist incidents – also affecting the Muslim and Jewish communities – are steadily increasing in the Netherlands. This is despite measures taken by different authorities and a long tradition of respect and openness in the country. Too many divisive and xenophobic messages feed into mainstream political discourse and the media and are not publicly condemned by the highest authorities, investigated and/or prosecuted, according to the committee. The committee also considers that the General Equal Treatment Act should explicitly include the grounds of ‘language’, ‘skin colour’ and ‘ethnic origin’ to better protect members of the Frisian minority and other communities from discrimination. The Advisory Committee’s Fourth Opinion on the Netherlands, which includes a number of recommendations for immediate and further action, will be considered by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers for appropriate follow-up. The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the Netherlands * * * The Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities is Europe’s most comprehensive treaty protecting the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. It is the first legally binding multilateral instrument devoted to the protection of national minorities worldwide, and its implementation is monitored by an Advisory Committee composed of independent experts. The treaty entered into force on 1 February 1998 and is now in force in 39 states. |
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Press Contact |
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Andrew Cutting, Spokesperson/Media officer, Tel. +32 485 217 202 |
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Council of Europe, Media Assistance Unit |
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