Gov’t decides against legally obliging municipalities to fight discrimination

Municipalities will not be legally required to draft local anti-discrimination plans, a move described as unworkable in a bill published Monday by Minister of the Interior Pieter Heerma. Instead, most existing local responsibilities for combating discrimination will be transferred to a national body.

In January, Rabin Baldewsingh, the National Coordinator against Discrimination and Racism, argued in favor of giving municipalities this new local responsibility. “To genuinely combat discrimination, responsibility must be assigned where it belongs: at the local level, backed by law and resources,” he said.

The bill introduced by Heerma concerns the country’s 18 anti-discrimination offices, which currently provide support to those facing discrimination. The proposal would place these offices under a national foundation. As municipalities lose these responsibilities, the government plans to reallocate funds from them to help finance the new organization.

Officials anticipate that certain parties will raise objections to the bill, according to advice submitted to Heerma. During discussions with municipalities and other stakeholders, the absence of a local anti-discrimination role was already described as a “missed opportunity.”

In the bill’s explanatory notes, Heerma emphasizes that municipalities already carry numerous duties. “Adding a new, explicit legal obligation would not improve that situation,” he writes.

In the bill’s explanatory notes, Heerma emphasizes that municipalities already carry numerous duties. “Adding a new, explicit legal obligation would not improve that situation,” he writes.

Baldewsingh, the National Coordinator, dismissed the feasibility argument. “If a responsibility is crucial for protecting fundamental rights, then you ensure that task is carried out,” he said.