Bel Gelijk - Discrimination? Call Immediatley!

In the Netherlands, a publicity campaign is being launched in June to encourage people to report cases of discrimination. A telephone hot-line and Internet site have been set up where they can do so. The various agencies involved, including the regional Anti-Discrimination Bureaus and the Equal Treatment Commission, are working closely together to back up the campaign. This will increase the impact of the campaign and make it easier to deal with complaints effectively. It also means that information on instances of discrimination is centrally coordinated.

The aim is not only to get people suffering discrimination to complain about this but also to persuade the public at large to report cases of discrimination they witness. Activities are, therefore, directed at making people more willing to report instances of discrimination and to take appropriate action when they see discrimination occurring. A new information campaign will be launched later in 2004 when new legislation banning discrimination in employment on grounds of age comes into force.

For information, contact Marjon Rensen at mrensen@minszw.nl