Discrimination in the Name of Integration, Migrants’ Rights Under the Integration Abroad Act

The Netherlands should abolish the overseas «integration test» that discriminatorily targets only migrants of certain nationalities trying to join their families, while citizens from other, «western» countries are exempt, Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released yesterday. People of Moroccan and Turkish origin – two of the three largest «non-western» migrant communities in the Netherlands – have been especially affected.

In the 44-page briefing paper, «Discrimination in the Name of Integration, Migrants’ Rights Under the Integration Abroad Act», Human Rights Watch offers an analysis of the Dutch overseas integration test in light of the Netherlands’ international human rights obligations. Human Rights Watch found that people of Moroccan and Turkish origin are especially affected, while citizens from «western» countries such as Canada, Australia, and Japan are exempt.

Attachment: Report Human Rights Watch and brochure from Dutch Ministry of Justice containing information regarding integration abroad exam (second half is in English)

The Civic Integration Exam Abroad

Report Human Rights Watch