Engels|De gebroken belofte van de rechtsstaat - explainervideo

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The Netherlands is a constitutional state.

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But this constitutional state doesn’t seem
to be functioning as it should.

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What’s going wrong
and how can we improve it?

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The promise of a constitutional state...

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is that citizens are protected
by and from the government...

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can exert influence
on the government’s power...

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and receive support if they need it.

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But this promise is being broken.

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The benefits affair showed that citizens
do not always receive the protection...

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they should be able to expect
from the government.

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The government turned its back
on its citizens and abused its power.

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The same happened in Groningen.

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For years the government ignored complaints
about the consequences of gas extraction.

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One thing is clear:
something has to change.

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The State Commission on
the constitutional state was given the task...

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to investigate citizens’ perspectives on
the functioning of the constitutional state...

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and to develop proposals for improvements.

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We started the investigation in early 2023.

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Since then, we have spoken
to many citizens and experts.

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Various questions were central
to the investigation.

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Which problems do citizens have with
how the constitutional state functions?

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What is going wrong and what can
the government do to improve this?

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We mainly wanted to know
what improvements would help citizens most.

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We explored in all kinds of ways
what citizens are up against.

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At 12 locations, people told us about their
experiences with the constitutional state.

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During an open forum
citizens shared their opinions with us.

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And a citizens’ panel
made various recommendations...

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on how the constitutional state
can better protect citizens.

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We also collected insights
from science and practice.

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During a hackathon
young civil servants worked in teams...

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on improvements
to the constitutional state.

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The State Commission concluded
that there were three main problems.

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The constitutional state plays
too small a role in how politicians...

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government administrators
and employees act.

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I think a constitutional state
is reflected as follows.

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I see that poverty levels are very high...

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but I also see that parents
think it’s really important...

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that young people go to school
to build a future...

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so that they can get out of that poverty.

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In a constitutional state, every student
has the right to attend school.

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We see that in such things as
students receiving financial support...

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and when bodies act to help
pay study fees, as well as fines.

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This gives such students
the opportunity to build a future.

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If the constitutional state
withdraws support instead of preserving it...

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such students will remain
in that cycle of poverty...

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and will never have the opportunity
to leave that world behind.

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The policy, the legislation...

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and the regulations surrounding
income support are too complex.

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It was totally unclear
what I was or wasn’t entitled to.

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I also wasn’t informed
that they were obliged...

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to offer me work up to
senior secondary vocational level 2.

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I also wasn’t informed that, if I felt...

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I wasn’t yet ready to work,
I could request a medical examination.

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And that’s exactly what could have
saved me so much distress.

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It happens too often that the government
makes it difficult for people...

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to get what they’re actually entitled to.

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Surely they can’t remove 
my rights in this way...

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which means I don’t have
a normal existence here.

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That I’m a nobody, stateless.

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While I wasn’t put up for adoption.

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There’s absolutely no protection for
a child who is traumatised and needs care...

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from Jeugdzorg,
which my mother trusted at the time.

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The fact that they put me in this situation
and let me stay there...

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is something I find overwhelming.

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The promise of a constitutional state
has been broken.

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It’s the consequence of political choices
or rather of not making those choices.

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And citizens are the victims of this.

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That’s why we’re calling on parliament,
the government and the judiciary...

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to work together to fulfil
the promise of a constitutional state.

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We’re making ten improvement proposals...

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that focus on improving
the constitutional state leadership.

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It’s important that politicians,
directors and civil servants...

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use the constitutional state as a compass
in their work and are trained in this.

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If young people are given a good example...

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they can make a better contribution
to the constitutional state.

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We’re also proposing to improve
the contact with citizens...

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and to involve citizens
in making policy and regulations.

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Simplify policy to ensure
people’s socio-economic security.

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So Saskia and others like her
can really participate in our society.

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And enable people
to get what they’re entitled to.

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Make sure that
it doesn’t take thirty years...

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as in Batya’s case,
before a solution is found.

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The improvements must ensure...

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that citizens are protected
by and from the government...

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can exert influence
and receive support if they need it.

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If you would like to know more
about the State Commission...

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our investigation
and the improvements we’re proposing...

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visit staatscommissierechtsstaat.nl.