Sjoerdsje van Ommen | University of Groningen (original) (raw)
Papers by Sjoerdsje van Ommen
Naast Vluchtelingenwerk stelt ook het College voor de Rechten van de Mens dat Nederlands gezinshe... more Naast Vluchtelingenwerk stelt ook het College voor de Rechten van de Mens dat Nederlands gezinsherenigingsbeleid niet in lijn is met de EU Richtlijn. De kritiek van het College rust vooral op de toelating en de inkomenseis. Dit is ook de basis van kritiek in dit paper op het Nederlandse vreemdelingenbeleid betreffende gezinshereniging. In het verleden is een aantal zaken aanhangig gemaakt bij het Europees Hof voor de Rechten van de Mens (EHRM) waarin het Hof concludeerde dat Nederland Artikel 8, het recht op familie- en privéleven, van het Europees Verdrag van de Mens (EVRM) schond. Deze en andere zaken zullen kort aan het licht komen in dit paper en gekeken worden of het Nederlandse vreemdelingenrecht strookt met de eerbiediging van familie- en privéleven in de zin van Artikel 8 EVRM. Allereerst zal de Nederlandse gezinsherenigingsprocedure kort worden besproken. Daarop zal de eerste deelvraag behandeld worden en luidt als volgt: wat is de reikwijdte van Artikel 8 met betrekking tot gezinshereniging? De tweede deelvraag luidt: hoe wijd is de beleidsvrijheid (‘margin of appreciation’) van lidstaten? In de conclusie zal gepoogd worden antwoord te geven op de kernvraag of het Nederlandse gezinsherenigingswetgeving voldoet aan internationaal gestelde normen.
This thesis will deal with the issue of broad legitimate limitations to the freedom of religion i... more This thesis will deal with the issue of broad legitimate limitations to the freedom of religion in relation to the wearing of a face-concealing burqa (or niqab). Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights (hereafter: “ECHR”) states that: ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; […] either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.’ Further, it reads that ‘(f)reedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.’ In the case of S.A.S. v. France, the Court held that France’s ban on wearing the full-face veil in public is legitimate on the ground of the principle of ‘living together’.1 The principle has not been well-developed in previous case-law and literature yet, thus this might become a major problem for the freedom of religion for individuals in the future. The reasoning of the Court will be reviewed in this thesis, as a too broad definition of the concept of ‘living together’ could undermine this right altogether.
This comparative study will first contain a literature review of the debates that are present con... more This comparative study will first contain a literature review of the debates that are present concerning the promotion of democracy of the US and the EU. The literature review focuses on the different concepts of democracy and power. The latter is important since democracy promotion emerged heavily as a response to terrorism. As Bush stated in a White House Press Release in 2003: ‘democracy and reform will make [Middle Eastern states] stronger and more stable, and make the world more secure by undermining terrorism at its source’ (Monten 2005). US’ democratization is also called ‘democratic realism,’ ‘national security liberalism,’ or ‘democratic globalism’, because its national security policy has centred on the direct application of US military and political power to promote democracy in strategic areas (ibid.). The next section will delve into the key differences of the EU-US approach, by first explaining the difference between unilateralism and multilateralism. Second, a comparison of their strategies will be given regarding the Middle East and in particular Hamas. And third, a closer look will be paid to the issue of legitimizing their strategies. Thereafter a conclusion will follow-up.
Keywords: democratic deficit – legitimacy – sui generis – EU institutions – parties – co-decision... more Keywords: democratic deficit – legitimacy – sui generis – EU institutions – parties – co-decision procedure – representation – separation of powers – checks and balances
The importance of human rights defenders has been emphasized in particular since two decades ago.... more The importance of human rights defenders has been emphasized in particular since two decades ago. The UN Declaration on human rights defenders and the EU guidelines have been main contributions to the discussion. This paper will argue that however these instruments are non-binding, they do show a trend towards real commitment and acceptance of such rules. There are many mechanisms working to the same end. The research below will analyse EU’s external and internal policies regarding the protection of human rights defenders.
Naast Vluchtelingenwerk stelt ook het College voor de Rechten van de Mens dat Nederlands gezinshe... more Naast Vluchtelingenwerk stelt ook het College voor de Rechten van de Mens dat Nederlands gezinsherenigingsbeleid niet in lijn is met de EU Richtlijn. De kritiek van het College rust vooral op de toelating en de inkomenseis. Dit is ook de basis van kritiek in dit paper op het Nederlandse vreemdelingenbeleid betreffende gezinshereniging. In het verleden is een aantal zaken aanhangig gemaakt bij het Europees Hof voor de Rechten van de Mens (EHRM) waarin het Hof concludeerde dat Nederland Artikel 8, het recht op familie- en privéleven, van het Europees Verdrag van de Mens (EVRM) schond. Deze en andere zaken zullen kort aan het licht komen in dit paper en gekeken worden of het Nederlandse vreemdelingenrecht strookt met de eerbiediging van familie- en privéleven in de zin van Artikel 8 EVRM. Allereerst zal de Nederlandse gezinsherenigingsprocedure kort worden besproken. Daarop zal de eerste deelvraag behandeld worden en luidt als volgt: wat is de reikwijdte van Artikel 8 met betrekking tot gezinshereniging? De tweede deelvraag luidt: hoe wijd is de beleidsvrijheid (‘margin of appreciation’) van lidstaten? In de conclusie zal gepoogd worden antwoord te geven op de kernvraag of het Nederlandse gezinsherenigingswetgeving voldoet aan internationaal gestelde normen.
This thesis will deal with the issue of broad legitimate limitations to the freedom of religion i... more This thesis will deal with the issue of broad legitimate limitations to the freedom of religion in relation to the wearing of a face-concealing burqa (or niqab). Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights (hereafter: “ECHR”) states that: ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; […] either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.’ Further, it reads that ‘(f)reedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.’ In the case of S.A.S. v. France, the Court held that France’s ban on wearing the full-face veil in public is legitimate on the ground of the principle of ‘living together’.1 The principle has not been well-developed in previous case-law and literature yet, thus this might become a major problem for the freedom of religion for individuals in the future. The reasoning of the Court will be reviewed in this thesis, as a too broad definition of the concept of ‘living together’ could undermine this right altogether.
This comparative study will first contain a literature review of the debates that are present con... more This comparative study will first contain a literature review of the debates that are present concerning the promotion of democracy of the US and the EU. The literature review focuses on the different concepts of democracy and power. The latter is important since democracy promotion emerged heavily as a response to terrorism. As Bush stated in a White House Press Release in 2003: ‘democracy and reform will make [Middle Eastern states] stronger and more stable, and make the world more secure by undermining terrorism at its source’ (Monten 2005). US’ democratization is also called ‘democratic realism,’ ‘national security liberalism,’ or ‘democratic globalism’, because its national security policy has centred on the direct application of US military and political power to promote democracy in strategic areas (ibid.). The next section will delve into the key differences of the EU-US approach, by first explaining the difference between unilateralism and multilateralism. Second, a comparison of their strategies will be given regarding the Middle East and in particular Hamas. And third, a closer look will be paid to the issue of legitimizing their strategies. Thereafter a conclusion will follow-up.
Keywords: democratic deficit – legitimacy – sui generis – EU institutions – parties – co-decision... more Keywords: democratic deficit – legitimacy – sui generis – EU institutions – parties – co-decision procedure – representation – separation of powers – checks and balances
The importance of human rights defenders has been emphasized in particular since two decades ago.... more The importance of human rights defenders has been emphasized in particular since two decades ago. The UN Declaration on human rights defenders and the EU guidelines have been main contributions to the discussion. This paper will argue that however these instruments are non-binding, they do show a trend towards real commitment and acceptance of such rules. There are many mechanisms working to the same end. The research below will analyse EU’s external and internal policies regarding the protection of human rights defenders.