National Safety Mechanisms - Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
National Safety Context
According to the Observatory of Killed Journalists there have been 2 recorded killings in the Netherlands since 1993. None of these crimes have been judicially resolved according to the latest Director-General's Report on the Safety of Journalists and the Danger of Impunity. The Netherlands has responded 2 times to all Director-General's requests for information on the judicial status of the case since 2022.
There are 2 national safety mechanisms being implemented in the Netherlands to prevent, protect and prosecute crimes committed against journalists. More information on these initiatives is summarised below including relevant links.
Steering Group on Aggression and Violence against Journalists
The Steering Group on Aggression and Violence against Journalists (Stuurgroep Agressie en geweld tegen journalisten) has been active since 2018.
What activities are carried out?
The Steering Group establishes the foundations for a detailed and responsive relationship between journalistic organisations and state structures to ensure new and changing threats to media freedom can be responded to or proactively protected against. It does so by frequently convening the stakeholders of the Steering Group, and by implementing a safety plan through its separate initiative called PressSafe.
How is it implemented? / Who are the stakeholders?
The Agreement on the Steering Group on Aggression and Violence against Journalists is the basis for the cooperation of the stakeholders, the Public Prosecution Service, the Dutch Police, the Dutch Society of Editors-in-Chief and the Dutch Association of Journalists. The Steering Group operates at the federal level, with the Agreement approved by the Minister of Justice and Security.
PressSafe
PressSafe (Persveilig) is a platform which has been active since 2019.
What activities are carried out?
The PressSafe platform implements activities in all areas of safety.
The PressSafe platform engages in monitoring and periodic reporting on threats against journalists, it produces materials for journalists related to threat awareness-raising and training for combatting online threats. The platform also provides psychosocial support services and a hotline for support related to physical, verbal and sexual threats. For the protection of journalists, the platform assists in establishing a dedicated contact point with police for the victim. Legal assistance is provided to combat strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).
PressSafe also provides for prioritized investigations and prosecutions when attacks and harassment concern journalists. Legal assistance is also provided to assist in the prosecution of crimes.
How is it implemented? / Who are the stakeholders?
PressSafe is an initiative of the Steering Group on Aggression and Violence against Journalists, and based on the Persveilig Protocol. It is implemented at a national level by its stakeholders, those which make up the Steering Group, the Public Prosecution Service, the Attorney General, the Nederlands Verenigung van Journalisten, and the Dutch Police.
It is funded by the Ministry of Justice and Security, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, the Fund for Journalism, the Dutch Public Broadcaster, NDP Nieuwsmedia, Talpa TV Productions, ANP and AT5.
For more specific information on the national safety mechanism and action plan in the Netherlands and those in other countries please follow the links.
