With its Judgment of May 1, 2017, the Human Rights Board ruled that the central government discriminates against caravan dwellers. In this case, PILP’s intervention played an important role.
The case involved a complaint by a group of caravan dwellers about the Handbook the central government issued to municipalities in 2006. Indeed, with the decentralization of housing policy, municipalities had become responsible for housing policy. With this Guide, the central government wanted to provide guidance to municipalities when developing local policy on caravans. The Guidance suggests five policy options, the first of which is the zero option. This zero option is also known as the “extinction policy” because it aims to make trailer housing disappear.
The Human Rights Board ruled back in 2014 that the extinction policy is discriminatory . With the current Judgment, the Board makes it clear that the central government also made a prohibited distinction by including the zero option in its Guidance.
The College concluded, in line with PILP’s argument, that:
‘By listing the zero option as a policy alternative, the Respondent not only encouraged discriminatory housing policy by municipalities, but legitimized it in advance.’
PILP welcomes this judgment. Even the central government cannot dismiss trailer culture, but rather should do more to protect trailer dwellers and their culture. We hope that the central government will play a more positive role in protecting this culture and provide guidelines for municipalities to include trailer housing in their housing policies.
If the government does not do so, PILP is considering legal follow-up steps.
