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Human Rights in the Foreign Policy of the Netherlands

2002; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 24; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1353/hrq.2002.0043

1085-794X

Peter Baehr, Monique Castermans-Holleman, Fred Grünfeld,

Historical and Contemporary Political Dynamics

This article deals with the role of human rights in the foreign policy of the Netherlands during the last quarter of the twentieth century. Foreign observers have often mentioned the Netherlands as a model of a state that often, though not always, has put human rights considerations before other concerns of foreign policy. Or, in the often quoted words of the Norwegian human rights activist and deputy foreign minister Jan Egeland: "The Netherlands has probably become the most effective human rights advocate today." 2 We began this study, because we wondered whether that flattering image— [End Page 992] flattering that is in the eyes of human rights activists—is in accordance with the facts. And if it was once in accordance with the facts, whether that situation has remained the same or whether, as we suspected, it has changed over the years and if so, why. We thus intend to do two things: (1) try to compare policy positions set out in official documents with actual policy and (2) study aspects of Netherlands human rights foreign policy as it has developed over the years.