The Rights Forum

The Rights Forum

The Rights Forum is a Netherlands-based NGO, founded by former Dutch Prime Minister Andreas van Agt and launched on 10 December 2009, the International Day of Human Rights.

The Rights Forum promotes a right-based policy of the Dutch government and the European Union with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

EU Report on Settler Violence

On 5 April 2012, The Rights Forum published an internal EU report about settler violence. As the only country of the EU, the Netherlands recently blocked this report by means of a “general reserve”.

Publication of the report is in the interests of an open and thorough public debate about the consequences of Dutch Middle East policy, which is urgently needed. The report can be read here.

2011 Fact Finding Mission to GAZA

A delegation of The Rights Forum visited the occupied Gaza Strip from 3 to 7 October 2011. The objective of the trip was to establish facts and circumstances that constitute serious violations of the human rights of the people of Gaza, that damage the humanitarian situation and the economy in Gaza and that pose a threat to the prospects of a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Rights Forum visited Gaza as an independent delegation. The visit was facilitated by the UN organisations UNRWA and OCHA and the Palestinian human rights organization al-Mezan.

While in the Gaza Strip, the delegation had talks with senior officials of the UN organisations UNRWA, OCHA, OHCHR and UNDP, experts from human rights and development organisations, academics and representatives of the private sector.

The findings and conclusions of the delegation can be read here.

2010 Fact Finding Mission to Israel, East Jerusalem and the West Bank

From the 23rd till the 29th of May 2010, a delegation of members of the board and the advisory board of The Rights Forum visited Israel, East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The purpose of the mission was to gather information on developments in the peace process and the human rights situation. In this context, the delegation met with Israeli and Palestinian human rights organizations and visited places where severe violations of international law are being committed. In addition, the delegation received presentations from the UN organization OCHA and a leading Israeli human rights lawyer and met with Avraham Burg, former chairman of the Knesset, the Jewish Agency and the World Zionist Organisation.

The findings and conclusions of the delegation can be read here.

publications in english

Recognition of Palestinian state will salvage prospects for peace
By Andreas van Agt, Frans Andriessen, Laurens Jan Brinkhorst and Hans van den Broek, Internationale Spectator, September 2011

European Former Leaders call for Recognizing Palestinian State
Press release, August 11, 2011

UN Membership of the State of Palestine
Paul de Waart in 'Haq Al-Awda', BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, August 2011

Former European Leaders call on EU to take action to Salvage Middle East Peace Process
Press release, December 10, 2010

Former Dutch PM tells Haaretz: European leaders can't trust Netanyahu
Interview Andreas van Agt in Haaretz, March 8, 2010

The foundation can be contacted via the contact form on this website.

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