{"id":243487,"date":"2022-05-23T08:59:34","date_gmt":"2022-05-23T06:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/legislation\/"},"modified":"2025-09-22T12:00:40","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T10:00:40","slug":"legislation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/en\/legislation\/","title":{"rendered":"Legislation"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"et_pb_section_0 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_block_section\"><div class=\"et_pb_row_0 et_pb_row et_block_row\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_0 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_0 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h1>Laws &amp; regulations<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_row_1 et_pb_row et_block_row\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_1 et_pb_column et_pb_column_2_3 et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_1 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><strong>Constitution, Article 1<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"BxUVEf ILfuVd\" lang=\"nl\"><span class=\"hgKElc\">\u201cAll who are in the Netherlands shall be treated equally in equal cases. Discrimination because of religion, belief, political affiliation, race, gender, disability, sexual orientation or on any other ground is not permitted.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_text_2 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>This article primarily addresses the government. The government may not discriminate. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_column_2 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_3 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_column_empty et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_row_2 et_pb_row et_block_row\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_3_5 et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_3 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><strong>Equal treatment legislation<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Article 1 of the Constitution is elaborated in other laws, which together constitute the equal treatment legislation:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>General Equal Treatment Act (AWGB), protects individuals who are discriminated against based on: religion\/belief, political affiliation, race\/origin, nationality, marital status, gender and sexual orientation;<\/li>\n<li>Equal Treatment on the Basis of Disability or Chronic Illness Act (WGBH\/CZ);<\/li>\n<li>Age Equal Treatment Act (WGBL);<\/li>\n<li>Gender Equality Act (WGB);<\/li>\n<li>Work Hours Discrimination Act (WOA);<\/li>\n<li>Fixed and indefinite term distinction law (WOBOT);<\/li>\n<li>Fixed and indefinite term civil service distinction law (also WOBOT);<\/li>\n<li><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/wetten.overheid.nl\/BWBR0005290\/2022-01-01\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Articles 7:646 to 7:649 of the Civil Code<\/a><\/strong><\/em>: relate to the employment contract and protect the reporter from victimization;<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/wetten.overheid.nl\/BWBR0001947\/2017-01-01#TiteldeelIII\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em><strong>Articles 125g and 125h of the Civil Service Act<\/strong><\/em><\/a>: relate to employment contracts with civil servants.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_text_4 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p><strong>Criminal Law<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Article 90quater Sr provides a general definition of discrimination for the Criminal Code.<\/p>\n<p>The criminal code criminalizes certain forms of discrimination, known as discrimination offenses:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Incitement to hatred, discrimination or violence (art. 137d);<\/li>\n<li>Insulting a group in public (art. 137c);<\/li>\n<li>Disclosure and distribution of material with discriminatory content (art. 137e);<\/li>\n<li>Participation or support of activities\/organizations aimed at discrimination (art. 137f);<\/li>\n<li>Intentionally discriminating against persons because of their race in the exercise of an office, profession or business (art. 137g);<\/li>\n<li>Discriminating in the exercise of an office, profession or business because of race, religion, belief, sex or heterosexual or homosexual orientation (art. 429quater).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In addition to these acts of discrimination, there is also talk of \u201ccommon offenses,\u201d such as insulting a police officer, \u201cwith a discriminatory aspect\u201d; the insult is then about the officer's skin color, for example. The discriminatory aspect may count as an aggravating circumstance. <\/p>\n<p>See also: the Penal Code (WvSr).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>International law<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>International law concerns rules that governments must abide by and does not apply to citizens among themselves. From the UN, we are familiar with the Universal Convention on Human Rights (UDHR). This treaty was adopted in 1948 and the first international affirmation that human rights are universal. The UDHR is not legally binding. Nonetheless, it is so often referred to in other instruments that its contents have largely been made legally binding.    <\/p>\n<p>In addition to the UDHR, the UN has a further nine core conventions in which the various human rights are housed in more detail:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).<\/li>\n<li>International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).<\/li>\n<li>International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD).<\/li>\n<li>International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW, or Women's Convention).<\/li>\n<li>Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Forms of Punishment (CAT).<\/li>\n<li>International Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC, or Convention on the Rights of the Child).<\/li>\n<li>International Convention Against Enforced Disappearances (CED).<\/li>\n<li>Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).<\/li>\n<li>International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (CMW).<br \/><em>The CMW has not (yet) been signed by the Netherlands.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Council of Europe has also established some conventions and rules that every member state (of the Council and\/or the European Union) and European institution must abide by, and in which the issue of discrimination is contained. Of these, the most well-known is the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). This convention deals with fundamental freedoms and the prohibition of discrimination.  <\/p>\n<p>In addition, the European Union has several regulations to combat and prevent discrimination, found in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Municipal Anti-Discrimination Provisions Act (<a href=\"https:\/\/wetten.overheid.nl\/BWBR0026168\/2020-01-01\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>WGA<\/em><\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A municipality must offer residents access to an anti-discrimination facility for independent assistance in resolving their complaints of discrimination.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_column_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_2_5 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_column_empty et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_section_1 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_block_section\"><div class=\"et_pb_row_3 et_pb_row et_block_row\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_5 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><h1>Other pages on discrimination can be found here.<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_row_4 et_pb_row et_pb_row_6col et_block_row et_block_row_6col\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_6 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_6 et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_0 et_pb_blurb et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_blurb_position_top et_clickable et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_content et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_main_blurb_image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/discriminatie\/\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap et_pb_only_image_mode_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-wat-is-discr1.png\" alt=\"Go here to the page what is discrimination\" width=\"221\" height=\"221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-wat-is-discr1.png 221w, https:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-wat-is-discr1-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 221px) 100vw, 221px\" class=\"wp-image-5950\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_container\"><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_description\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">What is<br \/>discrimination?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_column_7 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_6 et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_1 et_pb_blurb et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_blurb_position_top et_clickable et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_content et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_main_blurb_image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/discriminatie-melden\/\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap et_pb_only_image_mode_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-melden1.png\" alt=\"Go here to the report discrimination page\" width=\"221\" height=\"221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-melden1.png 221w, https:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-melden1-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 221px) 100vw, 221px\" class=\"wp-image-5949\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_container\"><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_description\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">Report discrimination<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_column_8 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_6 et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_2 et_pb_blurb et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_blurb_position_top et_clickable et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_content et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_main_blurb_image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/en\/method-of-handling-complaints\/\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap et_pb_only_image_mode_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-werkwijze1.png\" alt=\"Go here to the procedure and complaint handling page\" width=\"221\" height=\"221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-werkwijze1.png 221w, https:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/icon-werkwijze1-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 221px) 100vw, 221px\" class=\"wp-image-5951\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_container\"><div class=\"et_pb_blurb_description\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">Methodology<br \/>complaint handling<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_column_9 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_6 et_block_column et_pb_column_empty et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_column_10 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_6 et_block_column et_pb_column_empty et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_column_11 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_6 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_column_empty et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-243487","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/243487","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=243487"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/243487\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":243490,"href":"https:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/243487\/revisions\/243490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bureaugelijkebehandeling.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=243487"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}