King Willem-Alexander opens UNESCO forum on racism and discrimination
King Willem-Alexander attended the opening of UNESCO’s fifth Global Forum Against Racism and Discrimination in The Hague on Thursday 29 October.
King Willem-Alexander attended the opening of UNESCO’s fifth Global Forum Against Racism and Discrimination in The Hague on Thursday 29 October. UNESCO and the Kingdom of the Netherlands are hosting the two-day meeting, which runs through Friday 30 October at the World Forum.
UNESCO said about 1,500 participants from more than 80 countries were expected, with around 150 speakers and 18 thematic breakout sessions planned. The forum’s theme is “From Commitment to Accountability: Change the System, Change the Future.”
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Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten said about 1.6 million people in the Netherlands experience discrimination and racism in daily life, including in employment, healthcare, housing and education. He said governments need to show whether their policies are producing results.
The programme includes discussions on structural racism, economic inequality, racial profiling, education, media representation, religious discrimination and artificial intelligence. It also includes a ministerial meeting and a session involving mayors and city representatives.
UNESCO has made reparatory justice a dedicated part of the 2026 forum. The organisation is developing a Reparatory Justice Toolkit intended to guide governments and institutions considering responses to historical injustices.
Jetten said the Dutch government has allocated 200 million euros for initiatives connected to the history of slavery and is consulting affected communities on a national roadmap toward recovery. He also referred to Dutch efforts on education about slavery and colonialism, and the return of cultural objects to Nigeria, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
File photo: Corné Bastiaansen / Wikimedia Commons · CC0 · cropped, SXM Today mark added
