Samenvatting

At October the 2nd, the Netherlands Human Rights Institute (NHRI) opened its doors in Utrecht. The NHRI has been established by law, which entered into force October the 1st. The object of the Institute is to protect human rights in the Netherlands and promote the observance of such rights. In order to achieve this goal, the Institute has many tasks and competences, such as advising on legislation and regulations, draft legislation and policy, conducting inquiries and investigations, reporting and making recommendations. It will also encourage the ratification, implementation and observance of treaties, guidelines and recommendations. In addition, the NHRI will collaborate with national, European and international institutions and civil society organisations engaged in the protection of one or more human rights and increase awareness and knowledge of human rights through information, teaching and publicity. Finally, the Institute will take over the present duties of the Equal Treatment Commission, namely investigating whether discrimination as referred to in the equal treatment legislation has taken or is taking place and publishing its findings on this. This will be the responsibility of a separate division of the Institute. This article describes the background of the establishment of the NHRI, elaborates the different tasks and considers what is necessary for the NHRI’s effectiveness.