The Netherlands presented its voluntary pledges for election for the term 2020-2022 on 19 March 2019. In the document, the Netherlands pledged to, inter alia:
Respect all human rights, civil, political, economic, social, and cultural, and protect, promote and ensure their full enjoyment at the national level.
Continue to engage with the international human rights system to ensure the full implementation of the international human rights conventions.
Cooperate with OHCHR, the Council, and its mechanisms, including by making voluntary financial contributions to OHCHR, maintaining standing invitations to Special Procedures mandate-holders, facilitating visits by these experts, and making at least two measurable and implementable recommendations to each State under review during the UPR.
Cooperate with the Treaty Bodies and work towards improving their efficiency and effectiveness.
Defend and expand civil society space.
Support and promote the Human Rights Up Front initiative and the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
Pursue bilateral development and human rights policies emphasizing dialogue, partnership, and technical cooperation.
Strengthen the Council’s ability to respond to human rights violations at the national and local levels.
Proactively reflect on the Council’s working methods, efficiency, and ability to implement meaningful reforms.
Advance and promote freedom of expression, press freedom, freedom of religion and belief, SOGI rights (including by supporting the work of the Independent Expert on SOGI rights), and civil society space.
An analysis of steps taken by The Netherlands in fulfilment of its international pledges shows that it indeed engaged with the Council, acting as Vice-President in 2021 and participating through individual statements in over 36% of all Council debates, dialogues, and panels. The Netherlands also joined a high number of group statements, particularly cross-regional and political group statements (89 and 365, above the averages for all countries which are 84 and 1o9 respectively). The Netherlands has a strong record of cooperation with Special Procedures, responding to all communications received and facilitating almost 70% of all visit requests received. The Netherlands has submitted all its periodic reports to the Treaty Bodies and participated in almost all reviews of other States during the UPR second and third cycles. The Netherlands indeed supported OHCHR through voluntary contributions. Regarding country-specific situations, the Netherlands sponsored resolutions on Yemen, Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, Russian Federation, Syria, Ukraine, and other countries as part of the European Union. It also supported the resolutions on all the thematic areas mentioned in its pledges.
Cooperation with international human rights system
Most overdue report
Fulfilment of past voluntary pledges & commitments