Political parties show: hands off women’s rights and LGBTQI rights!

In the budget for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, there is a relatively small article of great significance: Article 3.2: for women’s rights and gender equality. This article supports women’s and LGBTQI+ rights defenders around the world to advocate for equal rights, claim their place in politics and the economy, and stand up against violence. Moreover, this article is the reason why the Netherlands is world-renowned as a free and safe country for women and LGBTQI+ individuals. With this policy article in hand, countless diplomats and ministers have shown at international forums: women’s and LGBTQI+ rights matter to the Netherlands. 

 

Earlier this year, the then Minister for Foreign Trade and Development announced the complete elimination of the budget for women’s rights and gender equality. With this, the PVV minister sent a clear signal: the Netherlands no longer stands for women’s and LGBTQI+ rights. She thereby gave free rein to both domestic and foreign anti-gender propaganda. Organizations advocating for gender equality and women’s rights reported a growing number of incidents of intimidation. 

 

Today, the Dutch parliament approved a proposal by parliamentarians Danielle Hirsch, Sarah Dobbe, Mpanzu Bamenga, Ria de Korte, and Laurens Dassen to restore this article. In addition to GroenLinks/PvdA, SP, D66, NSC, and Volt, the proposal was supported by Denk, VVD, Party for the Animals, Christian Union, and the CDA. A gesture of great value to countless women and LGBTQI+ individuals worldwide. WO=MEN stands for women’s rights and gender equality – in the Netherlands and beyond. We thank all parties who today unanimously showed: hands off women’s and LGBTQI+ rights! 

 

Read the adopted amendment by Danielle Hirsch et al. here, regarding the preservation of the budget for women’s rights. 

 

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