It is important to be aware of human rights violations that happen within our own borders. For example, the rights of sex workers in the Netherlands may be violated in the name of “protecting” women from trafficking. Refugees are kept in detention during the asylum procedure. People living in the Netherlands without documents are labeled illegal and treated as criminals by the justice system. This forces them “underground” where they live in dangerous situations without protection of their human rights. This includes many women working illegally as domestic workers, and many women and girls refugees without legal status. The Netherlands jeopardises its historical status as a centuries-old hub of migration, internationalism and multiculturalism if the human rights violations within its own borders are not addressed properly. |