The cabinet is investigating whether the Netherlands should legally establish that slavery and the slave trade were crimes against humanity in the past.
A committee that should initiate the debate on the history of slavery must also investigate this, writes Minister Ollongren of the Interior to the Senate.
Party for the Animals Senator Nicolaï had asked the minister to take France as an example, where slavery in colonial times had been identified as a crime against humanity almost twenty years ago.
The PvdD’s motion on such a law seemed to count on the support of a majority. This law should also provide guarantees regarding the creation or maintenance of a national monument, a museum and a knowledge center.
Nice gesture for Keti Koti
As Ollongren now comes with a pledge, Nicolaï is holding the motion, which would actually be put to the vote today. This means that there will be no vote pending the elaboration of the minister’s plan.
Nicolaï calls Ollongren’s letter “a nice gesture just before Keti Koti”. Tomorrow is that commemoration of the abolition of slavery.
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