In some cases legal proceedings in an individual case are a good way of achieving a broader objective. This is known as ‘strategic litigation’ and is a way for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other interest groups to champion their areas of interest.

The attorneys at Prakken d’Oliveira have frequently engaged in lengthy collaborations with various stakeholders for the purpose of strategic litigation. They therefore have a valuable network and the experience required in order to bring strategic cases before the courts successfully.

If you are looking to bring about change with regard to a specific issue by means of strategic legislation, our attorneys are happy to advise you on your legal options.

The attorneys at Prakken d’Oliveira regularly advise non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and companies in the area of human rights, law of war and international law. Our attorneys have specialized knowledge in these areas and have extensive experience in (international) litigation. This makes them ideally suited to advise you on a host of areas, including the question of how risks can best be limited.

Our Business and Human Rights section has more information on advice for businesses.

Our attorneys are happy to advise you on your legal options.

As a citizen you have a right to information about you that is processed by the authorities and businesses. With government information this often involves information that is relevant to everyone and that can be requested under the Government Information [Public Access] Act (Wet Openbaarheid van Bestuur, or ‘Wob’). In the case of your personal information, you can request this under the General Data Protection Regulation (‘GDPR’), formerly the Personal Data Protection Act (Wet bescherming persoonsgegevens, or ‘Wbp’). There are various other laws that can be used in order to request information, e.g. with regard to information collected within the context of criminal proceedings or information held by the police. You may also need information in order to bring a legal action (exhibition proceedings). We can help you in all these cases.

Our attorneys are happy to advise you on your legal options.

Many adoptions took place in the past which did not entirely follow the rules. Sadly this still happens today. This often involves adoptions from abroad. The consequences for those concerned are serious: children who cannot trace their biological parents and feel uprooted, or parents who can longer find their children.

In some cases you can hold the people or organisations responsible for such illegal practices accountable for their actions. Were you illegally adopted as a child and do you want to know whether you can hold the people concerned accountable?

Our attorneys are happy to advise you on your legal options.

You may only be removed from Dutch territory under strict conditions. For example, deportation or extradition may not place you in danger of life and limb. In the event of an extradition the court will also examine whether the criminal process in the country to which you are being extradited meets international standards. Our attorneys offer unique experience in all these areas: You may only be removed from Dutch territory under strict conditions. For example, deportation or extradition may not place you in danger of life and limb. In the event of an extradition the court will also examine whether the criminal process in the country to which you are being extradited meets international standards. Our attorneys offer unique experience in all these areas: 

• For an asylum process you can call upon our immigration law section.
• For an extradition process you can call upon our criminal law section.
• For a deportation or extradition that has not taken place in accordance with the rules you can call upon the international law and human rights section. 

Our attorneys are happy to advise you on your legal options.

Various international organisations are based in the Netherlands. They occupy a special position within the Dutch legal system. Special rules often apply in the event of a dispute between an employee and the organisation.

If you have a dispute with an international organisation or you want advice in order to avoid a dispute, please contact us.

If the Dutch courts have ruled against you up to the highest level you can, in some cases, submit your case to an international court. European rules sometimes offer recourse that would not be available otherwise. Our attorneys will work with you to determine where you can best submit your complaint and what conditions apply. Our attorneys regularly appear before the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. We also have experience submitting (individual) complaints against countries before one of the UN human rights treaty bodies, bodies that deal with violations of the UN human rights treaties (such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention Against Torture).

Our attorneys are happy to advise you on your legal options.

It is not just the authorities that must respect fundamental rights. Companies also have this duty. The fact that a Dutch company must also abide by fundamental rights abroad was established in the case brought against Royal Dutch Shell on behalf of Nigerian farmers who were the victim of oil pollution. Prakken d’Oliveira has also litigated in various other cases on behalf of victims of human rights breaches by (Dutch) companies.

As well as obtaining compensation for victims of human rights breaches, we also advise companies on their international obligations so that breaches can be avoided. For more information about this, we kindly refer you to our Business and Human Rights section.

Our attorneys are happy to advise you on your legal options.

The authorities must abide by the obligations that can be found in international treaties and the Dutch Constitution. This means that citizens have certain freedoms and rights with which the authorities may not interfere. If this nonetheless happens, it may mean that these rights have been breached and it might be possible to hold the authorities liable. We have accrued unique experience conducting civil proceedings against the Dutch authorities. Examples are the Srebrenica case (Nuhanović and Mustafić) and the cases concerning Dutch war crimes in the former Dutch East-Indies (1945-1949). Needless to say you can also turn to us in connection with breaches of human rights on Dutch territory.

Our attorneys are happy to advise you on your legal options.

Your fundamental rights are protected by international treaties and the Dutch Constitution. You can invoke these rights in a Dutch court and/or in international courts. Through legal action you can ask a court to prohibit a breach of your rights or claim compensation if that breach has already taken place. Fundamental rights cover the following rights and situations:

• Protection of victims of war
• Prohibition of discrimination
• Freedom of religion
• Unlawful release of information
• Unlawful deportation or extradition
• Freedom of expression
• Right to privacy
• Right to protest
• Due process rights
• Indigenous peoples
• Right to a clean living environment
• Right to information
• Animal rights
• Activism

Our attorneys are happy to advise you on your legal options.