State Commission against Discrimination and Racism published a vision for the future of Dutch non-discrimination law
On December 10, 2025, the Dutch State Commission against Discrimination and Racism published a vision for the future of Dutch non-discrimination law, entitled "Together for Equality." Several researchers from the Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance contributed to this vision.
With this, the State Commission opens the discussion on how non-discrimination law can be renewed so that equal treatment is actually done justice.
Researchers and social parties
The vision for the future is based on nine preliminary advice reports written by academics in collaboration with civil society organisations. Each highlights a specific innovation issue within non-discrimination law, such as structural discrimination, unilateral government action, intersectionality, algorithmic discrimination, and access to justice.
“Equality forms the foundation of our democratic constitutional state. Yet, many people still experience discrimination in their daily lives. This raises the question of how the legal system can be strengthened. Not only as a safety net for injustice, but also as a driving force for justice,” says committee chair Dr. Joyce Sylvester. She is also an Academic Fellow of the Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance at Utrecht University.
Discrimination is a deeply entrenched and widespread problem within Dutch society. Everyone in the Netherlands experiences discrimination, directly or indirectly, on all grounds set out in Article 1 of the Constitution. It damages human lives, and remedial actions cost society billions. Sylvester: “It is time for a non-discrimination law that is stronger in protection, fairer in operation, and more humane in tone.”
Utrecht University
In addition to Joyce Sylvester, other researchers from the Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance are affiliated with the State Commission against Discrimination and Racism:
- Mirko Noordegraaf, vice-chair. He is Professor of Public Management and head of the Utrecht UniversitySchool of Governance.
- Alexandra Timmer, one of the committee members. She is an associate professor of human rights at the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM).
- Karin de Vries, co-author of the preliminary advisory report "Measuring is knowing, measuring is power. Principles for a regulation of 'equality data' in Dutch equal treatment law." Karin de Vries is Professor of Fundamental Rights.
- Linda Senden co-authored the preliminary advisory report "Achieving equality. Address constitutional obligations and collective responsibility!" Linda Senden is Professor of International and European Law.
The scholars' advisory reports also cite publications by Hanneke van Eijken, Janneke Gerards, and Jitske Mink, among others.