Netherlands (Oct 2019) - Article 33

1 - WILLINGNESS TO APPLY THE CRPD.
Do you feel that the political and administrative authorities of your country are strongly committed to/involved in fully implementing the CRPD?

The government has taken a lot of time to start the ratification process. This is because the government felt the need to study first of all the consequences of the UNCRPD for Dutch legislation and to study the financial consequences for the national budget due to the implementation of the convention. In the summer of 2013, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports held a public consultation on a first draft of the ratification law giving all citizens and organisations the opportunity to give their opinion on the proposed law and the added document how the law should work in practice, At this moment (summer 2014) the formal legislation procedure is going on and the government want is expected to ratify the UNCRPD before summer 2015.

2 - FOCAL POINTS.
Have the focal points (i.e. points of contact) provided for in article 33-1 of the CRPD been designated in your country?

The Ministry of Welfare, Health and Sports has been designated as focal point. This ministry coordinates an intersectoral meeting, in which various ministries participate.

3 - ROLE.

What is, or will be, their role?

The Ministry of Welfare, Health and Sports coordinates the ratification and implementation of the CRPD. This ministry currently takes first steps to design an Action Plan.

4 - COORDINATION OF ACTIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CRDP AND FOCAL POINTS.
How are the focal points and the actions for the CRPD's implementation coordinated?

The design of this structure is not clear yet.

5 - PROMOTION OF THE CRPD.
How does your country go about promoting the CRPD?

The UNCRPD is promoted by Ieder(in), the Dutch umbrella organisation for persons with disabilities and chronic illnesses , and by the Coalition for Inclusion, an informal network of self-advocates, professionals and a number of NGO's. Together with a few other national organisations (of persons with intellectual disabilities and persons with psychosocial problems) they collaborate in the so-called ‘Alliance for the Implementation of the CRPD'.

6 - PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS INCLUDED IN THE CRPD.
Which national authority is responsible for ensuring the effective implementation of the rights included in the CRPD?

Please note that the CRPD has not been ratified yet.

7 - MONITORING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CRPD.
In your country, which authority is in charge of monitoring the implementation of the CRPD?

The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights.

8 - ROLE OF ASSOCIATIONS OF BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS. How are the associations of blind or visually impaired persons involved in the implementation of the CRPD

The Eye Association Netherlands and other organisations for the visual impaired persons are member of Ieder(in). Ieder(in) advocates the rigths and interests of disabled persons and persons with chronic illnesses.

Furthermore the Eye Association promotes the convention among her member groups throughout the country.

9 - ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
Have any additional resources (human or financial) been been made available for the implementation of the CRPD?

No. The Ministry of Welfare, Health and Sports says that no extra resources will be available for the implementation of the CRPD in The Netherlands.

10 - CRPD IMPLEMENTATION MONITORING REPORT.
Depending on the date on which your country ratified the CRPD, is it required to submit a report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities? If it is, has it done so?

Not relevant yet.

11 - SHADOW REPORT.
Have the associations of persons with disabilities presented the so-called shadow report?

Not relevant yet.

12 - COMMENTS.

Do you have any comments on the implementation of the CRPD in your country?

none.

Update and Additional research 2019: (Sarah Woodin)

The Netherlands ratified the CRPD on the 16 June 2016 but it has not signed the Optional Protocol.

The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights (NIHR) is A rated by GANHRI and has an advisory group of disabled people to work on the monitoring process. It also consults disabled people (Submission to CRPD committee 2018 NIHR). It also states that “the Institute regrets that the government has not seized that opportunity to place the position of women with disabilities on the agenda. It is not self-evident that all partners – be it governmental or non-governmental – involved in implementing the Convention will take their specific situation into account when necessary"

The Coalition for Inclusion is due to produce a shadow report at the end of 2019.