CRC/C/NLD/CO/4

Netherlands (CRC 16-07-2015)

The Committee considered the fourth periodic report of the Netherlands (CRC/C/NLD/4) at its 2003rd and 2005th meetings (see CRC/C/SR.2003 and SR.2005), held on 27 May 2015, and adopted the following concluding observations at its 2024th meeting (see CRC/C/SR.2024), held on 5 June 2015.

Concluding observations

B. General principles (arts. 2, 3, 6 and 12 of the Convention)

Non-discrimination

25. The Committee welcomes the Municipal Anti-Discrimination Services Act, which allows citizens to address reports of discrimination to local anti-discrimination services. It is concerned, however, that children in marginalized and disadvantaged situations such as refugee children, asylum-seeking children, undocumented children, children belonging to ethnic minority groups, children with disabilities, chronically ill children and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex children continue to face discrimination. The Committee is also concerned that children in the Caribbean part of the State party (Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten, as well as Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba) do not enjoy the same rights as children in the European part of the Netherlands.
26. The Committee recommends that the State party take all the measures necessary to ensure that all children under the State party’s jurisdiction enjoy the same rights without any discrimination on the basis of their nationality, residency status, ethnicity, identity, health, disability, sexual identity and orientation throughout the State party It urges the State party to pay particular attention to children in the Caribbean part of its territor who do not have access to the same rights as children in the European part.