Newsletter
Dear friends of the NHC,
Find our thematic monthly reflections below and sign up for future newsletters.
October/November 2024 | Reclaiming Civic Space
The time to reclaim civic space from growing authoritarianism and repression worldwide has never been more ripe. The fight to protect our rights is not just about defending what has been lost; it is about actively creating spaces for change. By knowing our rights and standing together, we can reclaim the future of civil society and ensure that freedom and justice are not privileges, but fundamental rights for all.
We are witnessing that, across wider Europe, citizens and organisations are reclaiming their rights and re-energizing civic space. From grassroots movements to international collaborations, people are stepping up to ensure their voices are heard. While the challenges are real—civic space is being restricted in many countries around the world—there is a growing movement of resistance and renewal, showing that we do not have to accept the status quo.
Civil society continues to mobilise and is actively pushing back against encroachments on freedom of expression, assembly, and protest. Instead of shrinking, many are reclaiming these vital spaces, proving that democratic engagement is not only alive but thriving. Activists, human rights defenders, and citizens are becoming catalysts for change, refusing to allow their rights to be eroded.
Even in the face of adversity, there is immense hope. Ukrainian colleagues, despite enduring full-scale war, are advancing restorative justice practices to foster healing and accountability within and beyond the criminal justice system. Their efforts serve as a powerful reminder that even in the most difficult circumstances, there is room to rebuild, reclaim, and strengthen the foundations of justice and civic life.
September 2024 | Strengthening Democracy
With the International Day of Democracy (15 September) behind us and the International Day of Peace just ahead (21 September), we wanted to take a moment to spotlight these two fundamental values that underpin the work we do to promote and protect human rights.
As we reflect on recent events and progress made in the last few months, we are reminded that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of justice, equality, and respect for all. Democracy, in turn, offers the framework that allows these rights to flourish.
In this newsletter, we explore this intersection of peace and democracy, highlighting key challenges and successes in our work. Whether it is the courageous efforts of Ukrainian civil society to continue their work often in a constant state of crisis; the tireless work being done to restore and strengthen a more humane justice system in Ukraine; or the continuing effort to promote dialogue and protect media freedom in the Western Balkans, as a cornerstone of any well-functioning democracy – these stories reaffirm our collective belief in a future where every individual can live with dignity, freedom, and security.
Find out more about our work and join us on Sunday 22 September at the Nutshuis in The Hague, when will we open our doors to the public as part of the Just Peace Open Day.
Summer 2024 | Supporting Catalysts of Change
As we get ready for summer here in Europe, we wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on some of the work we have done in the past months, reaching out to civil society, governments as well as the justice chain to mobilise the right peer-to-peer expertise and build bridges while promoting human rights, the rule of law and justice in wider Europe.
Within our project “Catalyst of Change: Supporting a Vibrant Civil Society in Europe“, we were fortunate enough to sit down with some inspiring grassroots partners from Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania, and find out more about the groundbreaking work of their organisations.
We continued raising awareness for the human rights situation in Georgia, and called on the Georgian authorities to immediately cease the persecution of independent voices, while urging EU and international bodies to leverage all available diplomatic and legal means to advocate for the protection of human rights and democratic principles in Georgia.
As one of the founding members and co-organisers of RARE (Recharging Advocacy for Rights in Europe), we were happy to conclude another successful 2 year training programme, and are now calling all human rights defenders and leaders in civic organisations from any EU member state to apply for the 2024-2026 cycle.
Our Right-Based Justice team visited Armenia in June as part of the EQUAL EU 4 Women Empowerment in Armenia project (coordinated by OxYGen Foundation) for a three-day training on the topic of advocacy planning and incorporating a survivor-led perspective.
In the first week of July, we were happy to welcome a group of reform-minded civil servants from Armenia, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine, for a Summer School on Integrity Policy in the Civil Service together with The Hague Academy for Local Governance.
Finally, we invite you to read our Annual Report 2023, which highlights our activities and results from the previous year, and reflects on why we do the work that we do: supporting catalysts of change for just societies.
February 2024 | Reflections on Ukraine
As February draws to a close, we are saddened to reflect on yet another anniversary since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. For the past two years, Ukraine has been at the forefront of the fight for peace, freedom and democracy in Europe. Ukraine and its people continue to pay the ultimate price for European freedom.
The war in Ukraine is a staunchly painful reminder that freedom and democracy can never be taken for granted. Now more than ever we must realise that sustainable, lasting peace can only be achieved by building democratic, free and rights-respecting societies – and that a strong focus on human rights and the rule of law lies at its core.
Below we provide an overview of the tireless efforts of our colleagues, friends and partners in Ukraine, who – despite and in spite everything – continue their work in advancing democracy, peace and recovery in Ukraine. We continue to stand by them, work with them and remain humbled by their resilience.
January 2024 | Reflections on the rule of law
Here at the NHC, we have been reporting on, monitoring and strengthening the rule of law across wider Europe since the organisation’s inception more than 35 years ago – and our work has rarely felt more relevant than right now.
In the Netherlands, we are noticing a worrying trend of increased pressure on rule of law and democratic institutions, as well as mistrust from the public regarding the independence and impartiality of said institutions. We are proud to have once more contributed to the European Commission’s annual reports on the state of the rule of law in the European Union, together with other Dutch civil society organisations.
At the same time, the situation in EU Member State Poland is looking promising after the October 2023 parliamentary elections brought an end to the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party’s 8 year majority rule. At the end of 2023, NHC Committee Member and Senior Judge Kees Sterk reflected on what lies ahead for Poland on the path to restoring rule of law; touching upon the surprising victory of the right-wing Freedom Party (PVV) in the Netherlands at the end of November.
Finally, the NHC has also proudly launched a new round of the Matra Rule of Law Training pogramme, designed to strengthen institutional capacity in the field of rule of law within government organisations in Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine. Each year we offer (hybrid) training courses, providing participants with insights into best practices across a wide range of rule of law topics. We have recently opened calls for applications for 4 hybrid trainings, and will be accepting applications for the “Administration of Justice” and “Functioning of Democratic Institutions” training programmes until Sunday 17 March 23:59 CET.
Find out more about our recent work on the rule of law in this newsletter, and watch this space for more thematic reflections from our team
