Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal disagrees with the conclusions of Human Rights Watch on human rights policy in the European Union. The NGO thinks the international community and the EU should make more effective use of the available instruments for improving human rights.

The minister says the conclusions are too negative. In a letter to parliament, he pointed out that the EU endeavours to protect and promote human rights. Minister Rosenthal stressed that the Netherlands encourages use of instruments such as declarations, dialogue and diplomatic protests by ambassadors.

The minister also disagrees that the EU has failed to integrate its human rights policy into its economic policy. He pointed out that, for instance, the Netherlands is involved in tackling child labour.

(nc/hs)

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