Do you believe you have been discriminated against? Then you can file a complaint with the National Institute for Human Rights free of charge. The Institute will investigate whether discrimination has occurred under the law. We will also consider whether mediation may be a suitable solution in certain cases.
Here we explain step by step how to file a complaint and how the process works.
The complaint procedure in 5 steps
Please send us an email on info@mensenrechten.nl saying that you would like to file a discrimination complaint. One of our colleagues will assist you in doing so.
Complaint form
From March 2026 onwards, you can file a complaint by completing our complaint form. This form guides you step by step to describe your situation clearly. Once we have received your form, you will receive a confirmation from us.
Need help filling it out? You can soon get support from the legal desk in your area. In the first half of 2026, a Lokèt Hurídiko will be launched on Bonaire, and a Legal Desk on Sint Eustatius and Saba. You can also contact us directly if you have questions or need assistance.
A legal adviser from the Institute will contact you by phone. In this conversation:
We discuss your complaint.
We may ask for additional information.
We assess whether the Institute can handle your complaint.
We discuss whether mediation is a possible solution. If mediation is possible and desired, we will contact the other party (the respondent). If the respondent also agrees to mediation, we will contact an external mediator.
If your complaint is being processed, and mediation is not possible or not desired, the following steps apply:
The respondent is asked to submit a written response to the complaint: a statement of defense.
You will also receive this response, so both parties know each other’s positions.
All other written information that the parties share with the Institute during the procedure will also be forwarded to the other party. This ensures both parties have a complete overview.
If no mediation takes place, or if mediation is unsuccessful, a hearing will usually follow.
This takes place at the Joint Court of Justice on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius or Saba.
During the hearing, both parties may present their views.
The hearing usually lasts one hour. You may also attend digitally.
The Institute asks questions and will indicate at the end of the hearing when the decision will be issued.
In some cases, a hearing is not necessary if all information is already clear on paper.
The Institute issues a decision: was there discrimination or not? The following applies: all decisions are published on our website, without the name of the applicant or the respondent.
The decisions are authoritative, for example for organizations and judges. This means they must take a decision into account and cannot simply disregard it.
The Institute cannot impose penalties or fines. However, many organizations do take action after a decision. For example, a supervisor may offer an apology, or an organization may adjust its rules.
After the conclusion of the case, we ask both parties what they have done with the decision.
