“All persons in the Netherlands shall be treated equally in comparable circumstances. Discrimination on the grounds of religion, belief, political opinion, race, gender, disability, sexual orientation or on any other grounds whatsoever is prohibited.” Article 1, Constitution.
Overview of Inclusion Activities
Article 1 of the Constitution states that a person’s background, gender, skin colour or beliefs must not determine the opportunities they are afforded in our society. Yet it can still happen that opportunities are not equal. In Apeldoorn, too, there are people who experience racism, discrimination or exclusion. We must all take this to heart by standing up for everyone’s human rights.
Looking for similarities
People seem to be understanding one another less and less. They emphasise differences rather than similarities. As a result, individual interests seem to take precedence over shared values. As a congregation, we do not go along with this.
Understanding one another
If you understand others, it is easier to be considerate of one another. That is why we are going to build bridges. In doing so, we are not dictating how people should think or act. Instead, we’re actively encouraging them to engage in dialogue with one another about our shared norms and values. Ultimately, these determine the extent to which people experience suffering or injustice. This approach is by no means non-committal, however, because as a local authority we stand up for everyone’s human rights.
Room for differences
Of course, there is room for different opinions in society. Even in an inclusive society. But let us be very clear: we do not accept discrimination or exclusion!
Overview of Inclusion Activities
If we want people to be able to participate as fully as possible, it is up to all of us (the council, partners, organisations and businesses) to remove as many obstacles and barriers as possible. In this way, we can include all residents and create an environment in which everyone can thrive. The Inclusion Activities Overview sets out what we are working on to make Apeldoorn increasingly inclusive.