About us
Since 1 April, 2000 there has been a National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings in the Netherlands. The Rapporteur, Mrs. C.E. Dettmeijer-Vermeulen, is assisted by a team of staff members who together constitute the Bureau of the Dutch Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings (in Dutch: Bureau Nationaal Rapporteur Mensenhandel, or BNRM).
Main task
The Rapporteur’s main task is to report on the nature and extent of human trafficking in the Netherlands, and on the effects of the anti-trafficking policy pursued. The reports contain information on relevant regulations and legislation, as well as information on prevention, criminal investigations regarding human trafficking, prosecution of perpetrators and victim support. They also contain policy recommendations aimed at improving the fight against human trafficking.
Independent position
The Dutch Rapporteur works independently and reports to the Dutch government. The government responds to the report to Parliament. The reports of the Rapporteur are public and can be found on this website (go to: Reports). The Rapporteur is not a complaints body and has no power of criminal investigation.
Methods
The Bureau of the Dutch Rapporteur of Trafficking in Human Beings keeps in contact with and gathers information from individuals, organisations and authorities involved in the prevention and combating of human trafficking and in giving assistance to trafficking victims.
For their information, the Rapporteur and her staff have access to crimnial files held by police and judicial authorities. Because human trafficking often occurs across borders, the Bureau also has many contacts abroad and co-operates with international organisations.
History
In 1997, at an EU ministerial conference on trafficking, the so-called Hague Declaration was adopted. One of the recommendations in this Declaration was to appoint national rapporteurs. The Dutch government did so on, by on 1 April 2000 appointing Ms. A.G. Korvinus as the first Dutch National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings.
