Today, the Dutch Council for Refugees (in Dutch: Vluchtelingenwerk Nederland; hereinafter: “VWN”) initiated summary proceedings against the Dutch State and the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (in Dutch: Centraal Orgaan Opvang Asielzoekers; hereafter: “COA”) because of the wretched conditions in the Dutch asylum reception facilities since September 2021. Since the onset of these problems - and even earlier than that - VWN sounded the alarm and reminded the State and the COA of their obligations to provide humane asylum reception facilities that meet the minimum standards required by law. However, the crisis continues to this day and as a result, a large group of asylum seekers and status holders - including many children - have been staying in degrading conditions for almost a year.
VWN demands i.a. that the State and COA provide reception facilities that meet the minimum standards as per 1 October 2022. The court hearing will take place at the District Court of The Hague on 15 September. VWN is represented in these proceedings by lawyers Tom de Boer and Thomas van der Sommen.
The press release published by VWN about this case today can be read here, you will also find the writ of summons there [both available in Dutch].
Previously