Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Homeless in Amsterdam
- Credit: Taken From Facebook Page: Het Dikke Dak. Hospice for the Homeless Amsterdam)
Health
Politics
Bed Bath Bread
François Crépeau
government
human rights
human rights violations
immigrants
Leilana Farha
Philip Alston
UN Special Rapporteur
United Nations
Tuesday, 16 December 2014 - 22:38
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

UN experts harshly criticize Dutch on migrant policy

Experts tapped by the United Nations say the Netherlands violates the human rights of undocumented aliens. The United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) has urged the Dutch government to take measures before Christmas by providing asylum seekers living on the streets with food, clothing and shelter, often referred to in Dutch as "bed, bath and bread." Philip Alston, a UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and Human Rights, has called the Dutch government's refusal to provide emergency services to the irregular migrants appalling. “Assisting migrants living on the streets is not a matter of charity; access to emergency assistance is a right and the government of the Netherlands is under an international legal obligation to provide it," Alston said. The Dutch government has left the decision up to the discretion of local municipalities and charities acting on a case-by-case basis, the UN accuses. Ms. Leilana Farha, a Special Rapporteur on adequate housing has said that the central authority needs to accommodate the number of municipalities who want to provide emergency housing for this population. "Forcing the most vulnerable people into homelessness during the harshness of winter is particularly egregious,” Ms. Farha added. She further stressed that especially the children who live on the streets in the Netherlands need to be cared for in the coming winter months. The Netherlands is using homeless irregular migrants to score points in the national debate about immigration, accuses UN Special Rapporteur François Crépeau. “But providing basic emergency assistance is a matter of international obligation, not of political expediency,” said Crépeau. This is not the first time that the Dutch government has been urged to do something about their violation of Human Rights on the asylum seekers living in the streets of their country. The Dutch government has announced that action will be taken in 2015, but the UN experts urge the Dutch government to take action before winter settles in.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Syrian war crimes suspect held in Netherlands denies accusations
  • GP groups annoyed by management of new Covid vaccination round
  • Low water level causing accidents in recreational lakes
  • AZ slides into Conference League play-offs, defeating Dundee United 7-0
  • NS begins recruiting passengers to test debit card check-in system
  • Dutch football team no longer opening World Cup; Tinkering is “remarkable” says Van Gaal

Top stories

  • Fire brigades fighting multiple wild fires as hot weather continues in Netherlands
  • More NL residents leaving Randstad for smaller town life
  • Eindhoven Airport to also compensate travelers for missed flights
  • Schiphol to compensate passengers who missed flights due to long lines
  • Dutch farmers group calls off "hardest demonstrations" in goodwill gesture to Cabinet
  • Code Yellow in Netherlands as thermometers top 30 degrees Celsius

© 2012-2022, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content