01
Search and rescue
In the context of the ‘Not on Our (Border) Watch’ campaign, led by the Dutch Refugee Council, one group of students undertook research on behalf of the search and rescue NGO Sea-Eye. This was partly legal doctrinal research on the legal obligations of states in the context of Search and Rescue at Sea (international law of the sea, international human rights law, European human rights law), but they also conducted qualitative interviews with practitioners, legal experts, and rescuers, in order to better understand the practical aspects of rescue operations. The students produced a final report and an information flyer for migrants crossing the Mediterranean. This flyer aims to inform potential victims of human rights violations and assist in the collection of evidence.
02
Family reunification
In collaboration with UNHCR and Centre for Migration Law, students conducted research on the legal obligations of states regarding the right to family reunification (FR) of beneficiaries of international protection. Their report brought together international case law on FR of beneficiaries of international protection and on who belongs to ‘family’ for the purpose of FR; an analysis of how ECtHR responds to international obligations and EU law regarding FR, and a discussion of whether excluding beneficiaries of international protection without refugee status from the right to FR constitutes discrimination under ECHR.
03
Citizenship and the colonial past
In collaboration with PILP the project researched the situation of those people born in Suriname who lost their Dutch nationality in 1975 and who are currently living in the Netherlands undocumented, without any longer being legally recognized as Dutch citizens. The question was whether the distinction made in Dutch regulations on the right to reside in the Netherlands, between former Dutch citizens who were born in the European part of the Netherlands and former citizens who were born in the Surinamese part, is discriminatory. The report played a role in advocacy and legal actions developed by the Regenboog Groep and specific lawyers.
04
Addressing the impunity gap
After 26 years of membership, the Russian Federation ceased to be a member of the Council of Europe on 16th September 2022. Since Russia is no longer a party to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), potential violations of human rights by Russia need to be addressed before UN treaty bodies. In this context, the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC) requested the Radboud Law Clinic to prepare a Guide providing a thorough comparative analysis of the case law by the UN treaty bodies on the right to life, freedom of expression, assembly and association, and the right to equality and non-discrimination.
05
Children and Dublin procedures
NJCM, the Dutch section of the International Commission of Jurists, requested the Radboud Law Clinic to shed light on the rights and safeguards provided by EU law and international law granted to refugee children during a Dublin transfer, with particular focus on the psycho-social support of unaccompanied minors that must be granted in the procedure of transfer. The NCJM project seeks to develop a strategy to challenge Dublin transfers of an unaccompanied refugee child to an EU Member State, where the psychological care and support are inadequate.
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06
Third-country students and undocumented work
Radboud Law Clinic students in cooperation with HiiL and the Justice Initiatives Lab have undertaken legal and empirical research on legal problems that third-country national students are facing while searching for work and/or undertaking undocumented work in the Netherlands. Students interviewed several students who have been or are working undocumented in the Netherlands. The study produced concrete recommendations on the working permit procedures and legal regulations of employments hours, based on interview outcomes and comparative research of other European countries.
07
Predictive policing
In 2012, the Amsterdam Municipality launched the ‘Top600’ project, an automated risk modelling and profiling system, in partnership with police and social services. The list contains the ‘top 600’ young people deemed most at risk of committing ‘High Impact Crime’.
In 2015, Amsterdam launched 'the top 400' project, containing a list of minors who have not yet been convicted of serious offences with the aim to 'prevent them from committing further crimes'. PILP-NJCM requested the Radboud Law Clinic to conduct legal analysis of Top-600 documents.
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08
Homelessness and human rights
Community organisation Straatconsulaat Straat Consulaat| belangenbehartiging dakloze mensen Den Haag asked the Radboud Law Clinic to develop an assessment framework based on human rights law to assist in the identification and challenge of domestic legislation and regulations in the Netherlands that contribute to the stigmatisation and criminalisation of people in situations of homelessness. The students presented their framework to Straatconsulaat and other interested organisations and did so from the angle of rules against discrimination and stereotyping. This report will be used in 2024-2025 when assessing local legislation in the Netherlands.
09
Judicial independence in Montenegro
The International Commission of Jurists asked the Radboud Law Clinic to prepare a baseline report for their mission to Montenegro aimed to assess the independence of the Montenegrin judiciary. The Clinic report was mentioned in the final ICJ report which stated that the research undertaken by the Radboud Law Clinic has provided crucial contextual information for the ICJ field visit to Montenegro.
10
Rights of labour migrants
The Kenniscentrum Arbeidsmigranten collaborates with migrant workers, experts and employers to generate knowledge and inform practice and policy affecting migrant workers in the Netherlands. The Radboud Law Clinic produced a report on standards of fair recruitment for migrant workers at the Dutch, European and international levels. This project combined legal analysis with qualitative research and interviews, which allowed our students to evaluate existing regulations and to produce recommendations of best practice for Dutch employers and policymakers.
