A/HRC/21/15
Services, as well as the progress and good practice achieved in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint
Maarten. Mexico made recommendations.
33.
Morocco applauded the establishment of a national human rights institution, the
Children’s Ombudsman and the Municipal Anti-Discrimination Services. It requested
further information on particularly the impact of the “Eigen Kracht” programme, the
success experience of Aruba in the combat against human trafficking and measures taken
by the Netherlands to ensure the respect of privacy through the secure use of personal data.
Morocco made recommendations.
34.
Mozambique commended the Netherlands on its many initiatives undertaken to
promote human rights, particularly efforts to reduce human trafficking and the
establishment of an NHRI in accordance with the Paris Principles. Mozambique welcomed
the ratification of the CPED, the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and
Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OP-CAT) and Optional
Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in
armed conflict (OP-CRC-AC) and was encouraged by the announcement of pending
approval of CRPD and its Optional Protocol. Mozambique urged the Netherlands to
consider withdrawing its reservations to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
35.
Despite existing anti-discrimination measures, Nicaragua noted the continuation of
discrimination of ethnic minorities in the Netherlands mainly due to the lack of a
comprehensive plan of action targeting that social problem. As a result, those affected,
particularly migrant women and minority groups, were prevented from enjoying social,
economic and cultural rights. Nicaragua made recommendations.
36.
Norway welcomed the establishment of an NHRI and Children’s Ombudsman.
Norway requested information on the views of the Netherlands on the suggestion by civil
society to formalize human rights education in order to increase awareness. Norway made
recommendations.
37.
Pakistan commented on the adverse effects of individual freedoms practised in the
Netherlands, stating that absolute freedom could impinge the rights and freedoms of others
through insult, incitation of hatred and discrimination. It referred to concerns vis-à-vis
racist and xenophobic speeches made by extreme Dutch political parties and expressed
regret at the Dutch decision not to appeal the verdict of the Geert Wilders case. Pakistan
asked the Netherlands how it intended to stop Wilders’ campaign of Islamophobia. Pakistan
made recommendations.
38.
Paraguay welcomed the establishment of an NHRI in accordance with the Paris
Principles and the creation of a Children’s Ombudsman, expressing its hope that those
institutions could fully undertake activities to investigate, provide information about the
human rights situation and cooperate systematically with civil society, as well as with
national, European and other institutions engaged in the protection of human rights.
Paraguay voiced concern over migrants’ human rights, particularly reports that migrants
were exposed to marginalization. Paraguay made recommendations.
39.
The Philippines welcomed the establishment of the Children’s Ombudsman but
noted an apparent absence of a consolidated national action plan for human rights in the
countries that comprised the Kingdom of Netherlands. The Philippines appreciated the
frank assessment presented by the Netherlands regarding challenges in the implementation
of the right to privacy, particularly the protection of personal data. The Philippines made
recommendations.
40.
Ms. Spies expressed appreciation for the interventions noting the progress made in
the Kingdom of the Netherlands. She reiterated that the Netherlands was currently
evaluating the consequences of the ratification of CRPD. The preparations before the
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