Cabinet strengthens approach to sexually transgressive behaviour and sexual violence with government commissioner

On nomination by the cabinet, Mariëtte Hamer will become government commissioner for sexual transgressive behaviour and sexual violence. Several incidents in recent years expose a broader issue on which action is required. With the new government commissioner, the cabinet wants to do more to raise awareness and create a safe culture, because intimidation and abuse do not belong in the Netherlands. This includes breaking the culture of gender stereotyping and abuse of power that leads to sexually transgressive behaviour and sexual violence.

Incidents expose wider issue

Sexual cross-border behaviour and sexual violence is a painful and persistent social problem. Recent incidents in society, including in sports and media (including the recent revelations by #BOOS about the television programme The Voice of Holland and Ajax), show that it is necessary to force a breakthrough now.

Minister Dijkgraaf (OCW): ''Recent incidents in sports and television show us that the cause of the #MeToo movement is still alive in our country. This needs to change. We need to actively start the conversation in every organisation to be aware that this can happen in any place. We are working towards a culture change where no one looks away and people hold each other accountable for wrong behaviour. Because every victim of sexually transgressive behaviour and sexual violence is one too many. I am glad that, together with Mariëtte Hamer as government commissioner, we are working thoroughly on this from the government side.''

Minister Van Gennip (SZW): ''Feeling safe and at home at work and being able to be yourself there: it should go without saying. But unfortunately it is not. It is clear that we need to do more to combat undesirable behaviour in the workplace. Rules need to be adapted, but a culture change in the workplace is also needed. And that starts with setting an example at the top. It is important that this issue is now fully on the agenda and good that Mariette Hamer is going to work on this."

Government commissioner's mission

Under the direction of the Minister of OCW and the Minister of SZW, work is being done towards a National Approach to Sexual Transgressive Behaviour and Sexual Violence. The government commissioner will be tasked with advising the government, on request or not, on the development and implementation of an action plan. In addition, Hamer is expected to be a recognisable figurehead and booster of the change needed to break through the culture that leads to sexually transgressive behaviour and sexual violence. This includes organising a long-term public debate.

Hamer is appointed for a three-year term. She will work with many concerned people and organisations. The commissioner will be supported by a compact office that will fall under the Ministry of OCW. She will report to the ministers of OCW and SZW.

Mariëtte Hamer

Hamer has chaired the Social and Economic Council (SER) since September 2014. She also contributed to coalition negotiations in the past year in the role of informateur. Before her appointment to the SER, she was a member of the House of Representatives for the Labour Party group. She won the Joke Smit Oeuvre Prize in 2019 and, as SER chair, was at the forefront of the advice Diversity at the Top. Time for acceleration.

The ministry under which the government commissioner will fall is not unfamiliar to her. Before entering the Lower House, she was, among other things, head of the Strategic Policy and Policy Explorations Department at the Higher Vocational Education Directorate of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and director of an adult education institution in South Holland. Hamer began her career as the first president of the LSVb.