News item | 04-11-2022 | 16:31
In the Netherlands we think it is very important that everyone can be themselves. And that everyone can fully participate in society without infringing one’s right to self-determination. Unfortunately, that is not yet the case.
A number of Dutch people, mainly women, have to deal with coercion regarding all kinds of choices in life, such as education, marriage and participation in society. In addition, research shows that the largest number of victims of forced marriage, abandonment and marital captivity are in a dependent financial situation and do not have an income of their own.
Minister Karien van Gennip of Social Affairs and Employment and Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf of Education, Culture and Science, together with civil society organizations, want to reduce such oppression in the Netherlands and promote self-determination. This preventive effort is described in a multi-year plan that both ministers are sending to the House of Representatives today.
Minister Van Gennip: “Everyone in the Netherlands should be able to participate fully in society without restricting their right to self-determination. With the multi-year plan for self-determination, I want to make women in a dependent situation more financially resilient, so that they too can live in freedom.”
The multi-year plan for self-determination 2022-2025 aims to initiate a change of mentality within closed communities. In addition, it focuses on increasing the basic financial skills of women in a dependency situation: they learn how to apply for a bank card and how to open an account, for example.
Attention is also paid to promoting the culture and gender sensitive work of professionals involved in tackling money worries, poverty and debt. Finally, with this plan professionals and parents are supported with parenting questions related to the theme of self-determination.