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Dutch Civil Servants Accuse Government of Racism
Dutch civil servants with migration backgrounds accuse the government of institutional racism and discrimination, demanding concrete action.
Dutch
Netherlands
Human Rights ViolationsNetherlandsGender IssuesGovernmentRacismDiscriminationWorkplaceReport
Dutch GovernmentMinistry Of The Interior And Kingdom RelationsVerwonderzoekLabyrinth Onderzoek & Advies
Judith Uitermark
- What actions are the civil servants demanding from the government?
- The civil servants demand concrete structural measures to combat racism and discrimination within the government. They express concern that the current government's approach is too vague and fear reduced attention to workplace racism under the current right-wing administration.
- What types of discriminatory experiences have the civil servants reported?
- The civil servants' letter, signed anonymously for fear of reprisal, details experiences ranging from explicit racism to subtle forms of discrimination, such as a lack of trust or patronizing behavior. They report that reporting such incidents to supervisors or confidants often proves ineffective.
- What response has Minister Uitermark given to the civil servants' concerns?
- Minister Uitermark acknowledges the severity of the situation and promises a new reporting system in January. However, the civil servants believe these measures are insufficient and call for more decisive action to tackle the systemic issues within the government.
- What evidence supports the civil servants' claims of racism within the Dutch government?
- A recent report confirms the civil servants' claims, revealing that 10% of government employees experienced racism in the past year, rising to 29% for those with non-European origins. The report notes that the experiences range from isolated incidents to long-term conflicts, and that many remain silent for fear of negative consequences.
- What prompted a group of Dutch civil servants to write a letter to Minister Judith Uitermark?
- A group of approximately fifty Dutch civil servants with migration backgrounds sent an urgent letter to Minister Judith Uitermark, highlighting institutional racism, discrimination, and ethnic profiling within the Dutch government. They report facing racism daily and experiencing patterns of exclusion reminiscent of the Toeslagenaffaire.