Shift of Responsibility from Local Governments to a National Body
The bill intends to unite the country's 18 anti-discrimination offices, which provide support to local citizens experiencing discrimination. Currently, the offices function as individual entities, and this bill would create a single national foundation to take their place. The funding attached to municipalities to perform these functions would then be used to fund the new national foundation.



Back in January, Rabin Baldewsingh, the National Coordinator for Combating Discrimination and Racism, expressed his support for establishing appropriate local responsibility for combating discrimination at the municipal level. Baldewsingh maintained that to effectively combat discrimination, there needs to be a local responsibility coupled with adequate laws and resources.

Cause for Concern and Criticism Regarding the Proposal
According to advisory feedback to Minister Heerma, there are several groups expected to oppose the proposal.

During consultation meetings with municipalities and other groups, the lack of a defined local role for the municipality in combating discrimination was labelled a missed opportunity.

The explanatory notes that accompany the proposed law state that the municipalities are already occupied with many other responsibilities, and adding another legal obligation to the list will not change the current si.