Riots in the streets, politicians being intimidated, and Nazi salutes being made openly. Dit waren geen taferelen uit een ver land, maar uit mijn eigen land: Nederland.
And not only in the Netherlands, throughout Europe fundamental rights across Europe are under pressure. This picture became clear in my draft report on the State of Fundamental Rights, that I presented this week in the European Parliament. Hate speech and xenophobic narratives are rising, women’s and LGBTQI+ rights are under attack, and judges, journalists, and civil society organizations face increasing threats. To name a few.
This picture became clear in my draft report on the State of Fundamental Rights, that I presented this week in the European Parliament.
Hate speech and xenophobic narratives are rising, women’s and LGBTQI+ rights are under attack, and judges, journalists, and civil society organizations face increasing threats. To name a few.
As a politician, I feel a great responsibility to not amplify these voices or try to harness them for political goals. We can differ in opinions, but we cannot debate fundamental rights. Fundamental rights are exactly that: fundamental. Whether they are women’s rights, LGBTQI rights, or minority rights- they are not up for debate.
In the coming months, I am going to ensure that my report offers practical recommendations to uphold fundamental rights.
We cannot afford to normalise this. Instead, let’s remember the values that define the European Union: human dignity, freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights.