Synopsis "The Netherlands: Human Rights (in English)"
The Kingdom of the Netherlands, which includes the Netherlands, Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten, is a constitutional monarchy. The government of the Netherlands (the term used to designate, inclusively, the European part of the state and the Caribbean islands of Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius) has a bicameral parliament; the country's 12 provincial councils elect a first chamber and the second chamber is elected by popular vote. A prime minister and a cabinet representing the governing political parties exercise executive authority. Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten have unicameral parliamentary systems and are autonomous countries within the kingdom, except in foreign policy, defense, and other "kingdom issues." General elections held in the Netherlands in September 2012 were generally free and fair, as were those in Aruba on September 27, 2013. Ultimate responsibility for safeguarding fundamental human rights and freedoms in all the territories of the kingdom lies with the combined kingdom government. Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces. They investigated the infrequent reports that security forces committed human rights abuses and applied appropriate disciplinary or punitive measures. With no widespread or systemic abuses, the most salient human rights problem in the Netherlands was societal animosity toward certain ethnic and religious groups, particularly Muslim immigrants from North Africa, Turkey, and the Middle East. Authorities prosecuted individuals during the year for violations of a law prohibiting public speech that incites hatred or discrimination, but convictions were rare. There were reports of violence against women and children, anti-Semitic incidents, societal discrimination and violence against some religious and ethnic minorities, and trafficking in persons for sexual exploitation and forced labor. Prison conditions in Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten remained substandard in several areas, although new improvement projects were underway. In these portions of the kingdom, governments generally took steps to prosecute officials, but reputable observers contended that political factors prevented investigation or prosecution in some cases.
