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Libya: Latest ICC and Coalition Statements; Related News and Opinions

19 July 2011

Dear all,

Please find below information about recent developments related to the International Criminal Court's investigation in Libya.

On 27 June 2011, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued warrants of arrest for Libyan leader Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar Gaddafi, his son Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi, Libyan government spokesman, and Abdullah Al-Senussi, Director of Military Intelligence, for alleged crimes against humanity committed in Libya since 15 February 2011.

This message includes latest ICC statements (I), statements from Coalition members (II), as well as news and opinions (III) related to the current situation in Libya.

Please also take note of the Coalition's policy on situations before the ICC (below), which explicitly states that the Coalition will not take a position on potential and current situations before the Court or situations under analysis. The Coalition, however, will continue to provide the most up-to-date information about the ICC.

Best regards,

CICC Secretariat
www.coalitionfortheicc.org

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I. ICC STATEMENT

1. "Statement by ICC Prosecutor on decision Pre-Trial Chamber I to issue three warrants of arrest for Muammar Gaddafi, Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi," 28 June 2011, http://www.icc-cpi.int/menus/icc/structure of the court/office of the prosecutor/reports and statements/statement/statement by icc prosecutor on decision pre_trial chamber i to issue three warrants of arrest for mu

"Just 4 months ago, the world requested justice for crimes committed in Libya and the UN Security Council unanimously asked for the intervention of the International Criminal Court. Yesterday, the Court delivered its first decision, it issued arrest warrants against Muammar Gaddafi, his son Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al Senussi for shooting civilians on the streets and persecuting alleged dissidents in their homes as crimes against humanity. The Judges considered that they have to be arrested to prevent them from using their powers to continue the commission of crimes.

Today, it is time for arrest. Let me clarify who should arrest them and how they can do it.

Libya has the primary responsibility to implement the arrest warrants. Libya is not a State Party of the Rome Statute, but it is a member of the United Nations since 1955. Libya has to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1970, which specifically called on Libya to 'cooperate fully with and provide any necessary assistance to the Court and the Prosecutor.'

The Court will notify the Libyan government based in Tripoli of its decision. Gaddafi's inner circle is the first option: they can be part of the problem and be prosecuted, or they can be part of the solution, work together with the other Libyans and stop the crimes.

Second option, the Interim National Council has expressed its will to implement the arrest warrants. Justice Minister Mohamed Al Alagi is here, and Prime Minister Mahmoud Gibril is coming tomorrow. They will explain their plans as soon they are ready.

International forces operating under UN Security Council Resolution 1973 have no specific mandate to implement arrest warrants, and the Court is not asking for that.
More than ever there is an urgent need for negotiations. But negotiations have to respect UN Security Council Resolution 1970 to do justice in Libya and the Court's decision that Gaddafi, his son Saif and Al Sanussi should be arrested.

There are two clear legal limits. Gaddafi cannot retain power to keep attacking his victims. If Gaddafi travels to a State Party of the Rome Statute, he should be arrested.

The Office of the Prosecutor will continue investigating new crimes regarding the situation in Libya since 15 February 2011, in particular allegations of rapes and efforts to cover up the crimes; we will eventually add new charges to the same case."

II. COALITION STATEMENTS

1. "AMICC Urges US Cooperation to Execute ICC Arrest Warrants for Col. Gaddafi and Others", AMICC Blog, 27 June 2011, http://amicc.blogspot.com/2011/06/amicc-calls-for-us-cooperation-to.html?spref=tw

"Today Pre-Trial Chamber I of the ICC issued arrest warrants for three individuals - Col. Muammar Gaddafi, his son Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Sanousi, the Head of the Military Intelligence - for the crimes against humanity of murder and persecution in Libya since February 15, 2011. The warrants come just over one month after the ICC Prosecutor's application for them on May 16. The application resulted from an investigation initiated in early March following a unanimous referral of the situation in Libya to the ICC by the UN Security Council. The decision marks the second time the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for a sitting head of state; the first was for Omar Al Bashir of Sudan in March 2009.

TAKE ACTION!

This challenge to the international community could prove an important opportunity for US leadership and support to the Court. The arrest warrants issued today provide a new and concrete opportunity to advance US national interests and to support international justice. For this reason and since July 17 is International Justice Day, AMICC has created an International Justice Day alert action which we hope you will use in your advocacy and share with others. It urges President Obama to help fulfill the mandate of Resolution 1970 which the US strongly supported by helping to carry out the arrest warrants issued today. Please share widely!"

2. "The Arrest Warrant for the Libyan Leader Upholds Justice and Human Rights," The Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP), 27 June 2011, http://www.coalitionfortheicc.org/documents/The_Arrest_Warrant_for_the_Libyan_Leader_Upholds_Justice_and_Human_Rights.pdf

"The Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP) welcomes the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court on the issuance of three warrants of arrest respectively for Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar Gaddafi, Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi for crimes against humanity allegedly committed against Libyan Civilians since 15 February 2011 including aggression, deliberate murder, attacks against a civilian population, shooting demonstrators and funerals and distributing snipers near the mosques.

ACIJLP believes - that the decision targeting people involved in crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court -, upholds justice values and human rights rather than political considerations. The decision came in response to the voices of the victims rather than political considerations and maneuvering as it is issued by an independent judicial organization concerned on prosecuting those involved in committing the most serious crimes....

The decision of the Security Council to refer the situation in Libya to the ICC contradicted expectations from World's governments, particularly Arab governments due to the fact that Libya did not ratify the Rome Statute governing the Court. Moreover, the governments believe that the Court cannot prosecute their citizens who accused in the internal issues as long as they do not ratify the Statute of the Court.

ACIJLP calls upon the international community to support the role of the International Criminal Court. Furthermore, it calls upon Arab governments to ratify and accede to the Statute of the Court in order to benefit from the integrity between national courts and the International Criminal Court, stop relying on the attitude of rejecting the ratification as a means of escaping the jurisdiction of the Court, and perhaps the Darfur case and the Libyan situation are a clear evidence of preventing impunity for perpetrators and prosecuting them, even if Governments are reluctant to ratify and accede to the relevant international mechanisms such as the International Criminal Court."

3. "Gaddafi must be arrested to face ICC accusations", Press Release, International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), 28 June 2011, http://www.fidh.org/Gaddafi-must-be-arrested-to-face-ICC-accusations

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) welcomes the International Criminal Court's (ICC) decision to issue warrants of arrest for Muammar Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdulah Al-Sanousi. FIDH urges States to execute the arrest warrants without delay.

In a decision rendered yesterday, the ICC confirmed that the allegations against the Libyan Head of State Muammar Gaddafi, his son Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi, and Abdulah Al-Sanousi, Head of the Libyan Military Intelligence, for commission of crimes against humanity are serious enough to have them arrested and brought before the Court in order for them to answer for their crimes. Gaddafi and his son are suspected of having conceived and orchestrated a plan to repress demonstrators and perceived political dissidents against the Gaddafi regime. Abdulah Al-Sanousi is suspected of having executed the plan in certain locations by directing the security forces to attack civilians alleged to be political opponents....

'Muammar Gaddafi, Saif El Islam Gaddafi and Abdulah Al-Sanousi must be arrested without delay. All States must get ready to arrest the suspects as soon as they enter their territory. The crimes are of such a serious nature that they affect the international community as a whole. There should be no safe heavens for persons accused of committing such crimes. Their arrest could deter commission of further crimes,' said Patrick Baudouin, FIDH Honorary President.

The investigation leading to the arrest warrants concerns events which unfolded in particular immediately after 15 February and for a couple of weeks, prior to armed confrontations between the Libyan forces and the rebels. FIDH notes that the Prosecutor has indicated that investigations are ongoing and that his office is investigating allegations of war crimes, including rapes, and attacks against sub-Saharan Africans wrongly perceived to be mercenaries.1 FIDH calls upon the Prosecutor to continue these investigations and to prosecute those bearing the greatest responsibility for crimes committed by all parties to the conflict.

The ICC has no police force. Therefore, States Parties and United Nations (UN) members, including Libya, are responsible for the execution of arrest warrants for the three suspects. During a briefing by the ICC Prosecutor at the UN Security Council, held on 4 May 2011, all Security Council members reaffirmed their support for the ICC investigation and commended the Prosecutor's swift action in Libya. Such support must now be translated into concrete action: Muammar Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdulah Al-Sanousi must be arrested...."

4. "Double tragedy for Sub-Saharan Africans", FIDH, 30 June 2011, http://www.fidh.org/Double-tragedy-for-Sub-Saharan-Africans

"...Targeted violence against immigrants from Sub-Saharan Africa

The evidence gathered by the FIDH mission points to widespread and systematic abuses and racially motivated violence targeting Sub-Saharan Africans in Eastern Libya. FIDH interviewed over 50 migrants who had fled Benghazi and other areas in Eastern Libya who reported that black Africans, accused of being mercenaries for Gaddafi, had been attacked, robbed, sometimes raped and killed. 'The fatal amalgam 'black equals mercenary' has been used to justify insults, termination of employment without pay, torture and other degrading acts committed by armed Libyans in the zone under rebel control,' stated Genevieve Jacques, 'All those we interviewed reported that they had been forced to leave their jobs and flee Libya because they feared for their lives'.

These crimes are committed with impunity. There are no investigations in Libya into these allegations. FIDH transmitted the findings of this report to the National Interim Council, calling for independent and effective investigations in accordance with Libya's obligations under international law. The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has stated that such crimes may amount to war crimes and therefore fall within the jurisdiction of the Court. FIDH calls on the ICC to pursue investigations into these crimes."

SEE FULL REPORT:

5. "Exiles from Libya flee to Egypt: Double tragedy for Sub-Saharan Africans," FIDH, June 2011, http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Full_Report_1543.pdf

6. "Libya : Surfacing reports may point to government policy
of mass rape in Libyan conflict," Excerpt, 'Women's Voices' E-letter, Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice, July 2011, http://www.iccwomen.org/news/docs/WI-WomVoices7-11/WomVoices7-11.html

"... At a press conference on 16 May 2011, ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo announced that he had requested arrest warrants from Pre-Trial Chamber I for Colonel Muammar Qadhafi, his son Saif Al-Islam Qadhafi and his brother-in-law and Head of Intelligence, Abdullah Al-Sanussi. According to the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP), these three individuals are the most responsible for the crimes against humanity as charged in the Prosecutor's application for warrants of arrest. It is now up to the Pre-Trial Chamber to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to establish ‘reasonable grounds' to believe these crimes have been committed and whether arrest warrants should be issued. Although the Prosecutor did not include counts of rape in his application for arrest warrants, he stated that the OTP will continue its investigations and assessing of evidence, including into allegations of rape.

This announcement comes amid increasing accounts of sexual assault against women in Libya including the highly publicised case of Iman al-Obeidi, and accusations that Qadhafi's forces were issued condoms and packets of the sexual arousal drug Viagra and instructed to rape women, sometimes in front of their families, as part of a government policy to instill fear in the population. Reports of sexual violence against children and sub-Saharan Africans mistaken for Qadhafi's mercenaries on the basis of their skin colour or national origin have also been made.

According to information provided by a psychologist in Benghazi to the international commission of inquiry[4] — established by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate allegations of international human rights law violations in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya — there were 259 reported cases of sexual abuse out of 60,000 survey respondents. Though the Commission has not confirmed the methodology or results of the study, it has indicated the need for further investigation into such crimes.

Despite the high media profile of these allegations, it should be noted that investigations are still ongoing and as yet the Prosecutor has not requested these charges to be included in the arrest warrant. The Office of the Prosecutor is trying to determine whether the accounts of rape and sexual violence can be attributed to a Qadhafi-ordained policy or ‘something that happened in the barracks.'

One of the hallmarks of this case is the speed with which the UN Security Council referred the situation in Libya to the ICC — on 26 February, roughly two weeks after the government's violent suppression of widespread protests — and the rapid pace with which the Office of the Prosecutor conducted its investigations and prepared the applications for arrest warrants. Many have contrasted the decisive manner with which the UN Security Council addressed the conflict in Libya and the expediency of ICC developments, with other situations where reports of possible crimes against humanity have been reported without any response from either the UN or the ICC."

7. “NPWJ celebrates International Justice Day with partners around the world”, No Peace Without Justice Press Release, 17 July 2011, http://www.coalitionfortheicc.org/documents/NPWJ_PR_InternationalJusticeDay_17July2011.pdf

“ ... There can be no doubt that international justice has made great advances in the past year: on 26 February, only 11 days after the beginning of the violent crackdown of demonstrations by the Libyan government, the UN Security Council decided unanimously to refer the situation in Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to the ICC. This decision and the short timeframe in which it was agreed, show the high level of credibility and the central role that the ICC has gained in the international community’s fight against impunity. In only four months from the referral, with an unprecedented speed, the ICC issued three arrest warrants against those allegedly bearing the greatest responsibility for crimes against humanity in Libya, including Muammar al-Gaddafi.

With the warrant against a Head of State, the Court has demonstrated that it stands on the side of victims and responds to their interests, even against those who are at the pinnacle of power.

Now the international community, and particularly ICC States Parties, needs to transform the promise of justice in real actions providing all necessary support and cooperation to the Court and consequently not granting any extradition agreement to Muammar al-Gaddafi and the others indicted by the ICC. It is only through working together with commitment and dedication and bringing those alleged to have committed the most serious crimes of international concern that International Justice will be able to fulfill its promise of redress and accountability for victims of those crimes.”

SEE ALSO:

8. "Libya: Q & A on the Arrest Warrants for Gaddafi, Cohorts", HRW, 29 June 2011, http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/06/27/libya-q-arrest-warrants-gaddafi-cohorts

III. LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

A. COALITION QUOTED

1. "HRW hails "long arm of law" on Qaddafi warrants", Now Lebanon, 27 June 2011, http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=286116
2. "Libya: Cooperation Key to ICC Libya Warrants" by Elizabeth Whitman, IPS, 30 June 2011, http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=56256
3. "HRW, Amnesty hail Gaddafi arrest warrants", AFP, 28 June 2011, http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/international/2011/June/international_June1105.xml&section=international&col=
4. "ICC issued arrest warrant against Muammar al-Gaddafi" (CPI emite la orden de arresto para asegurar la entrega de Muamar al Gadafi), Interview with CICC Outreach Liaison for the Americas, Asia and the Pacific Michelle Reyes, NTN24, 27 June 2011, http://www.ntn24.com/videos/cpi-emite-la-orden-de-arresto-para-asegurar-la-entrega-de-muamar-al-gadafi-010970 (In Spanish)

B. OTHER NEWS AND OPINIONS

1. "African Union Chairman Ping and the Libya Warrants", CGS, 8 July 2011, http://globalsolutions.org/blog/2011/07/african-union-chairman-ping-and-libya-warrants
2. "Gaddafi's warrant to stay - prosecutor", AFP, 8 July 2011, http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110708/world/Gaddafi-s-warrant-to-stay-prosecutor.374471
3. "Libya: Resolution 1973 And the Nato Operations - A Case for Africa", Concord Times (Freetown), 7 July 2011, http://allafrica.com/stories/201107081206.html
4. "A lost cause", Financial Mail, 7 July 2011, http://www.fm.co.za/Article.aspx?id=147818
5. "Botswana breaks ranks over Gaddafi", AFP, 7 July 2011, http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Botswana-breaks-ranks-over-Gaddafi-20110706
6. "Libya: Gaddafi's Rapes and the ICC", The Africa Report, 6 July 2011, http://www.theafricareport.com/archives2/politics/5141354-libya-gaddafis-rapes-and-the-icc.html
7. "Libyan prosecutors compile security charges against rebel leaders, plan to try them in court", AP, 6 July 2011, http://www.newser.com/article/d9oa77g00/libyan-prosecutors-compile-security-charges-against-rebel-leaders-plan-to-try-them-in-court.html
8. "UN Focuses on Rape as Weapon of War After Libyan Woman's Video Goes Viral" by Flavia Krause-Jackson and Caroline Alexander, Bloomberg News, 6 July 2011, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-06/rape-as-weapon-of-war-is-un-focus-after-libyan-woman-s-plight.html
9. "ICC urged to extend Libya investigation to NATO and AU," Geraldine Coughlan, RNW, 5 July 2011, http://www.rnw.nl/international-justice/article/icc-urged-extend-libya-investigation-nato-and-au
10. "African Union disregards Gaddafi arrest warrant," AP, 3 July 2011, http://www.news.com.au/world/african-union-disregards-gaddafi-arrest-warrant/story-e6frfkyi-1226086472751
11. "Gadhafi's son denies he ordered civilians killed", The Independent, 1 July 2011, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/gaddafi-son-denies-killings-claims-2305376.html
12. "Can ICC warrant really secure Gaddafi arrest?" by Christien van den Brink, Xinhua News Agency, 1 July 2011, http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/indepth/2011-07/01/c_13961288.htm
13. "NATO and Libya: 100 Days, but any progress? Analysis by Mary E. Stonaker", Al -Arabiya, 1 July 2011, http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011/07/01/155562.html
14. "Rebels await 'clear AU stance' on Gaddafi", News 24, 30 June 2011, http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Rebels-await-clear-AU-stance-on-Gaddafi-20110630
15. "Arrest warrant", The Nation, 30 June 2011, http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/editorial/10876-arrest-warrant.html
16. "Libya: War and rape Have Muammar Gadaffi's forces used rape as a weapon to suppress Libya's uprising?", Al-Jazeera, 30 June 2011, http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/peopleandpower/2011/06/201162964345738600.html
17. "SA legal team: ICC has no case against Gaddafi", Mail and Guardian, 30 June 2011, http://mg.co.za/article/2011-06-30-sa-legal-team-icc-has-no-case-against-gaddafi/
18. "ICC Warrant 'Pours Oil on Fire' in Libya, African Union Says" by Franz Wild, Bloomberg News, 30 June 2011, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-29/icc-warrant-pours-oil-on-fire-in-libya-african-union-says-1-.html
19. "Justice League The case for calling off the Tomahawks and bringing Muammar al-Qaddafi to The Hague." by David Scheffer, Foreign Policy, 30 June 2011, http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/06/29/justice_league?page=0,1
20. "International Criminal Court Prosecutor calls on Libyans to arrest Qadhafi", UN News Center, 29 June 2011, http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=38873&Cr=Libya&Cr1
21. "ICC Urges Al Qathafi's Aides to Turn Him Over for Trial", Tripoli Post, 29 June 2011, http://tripolipost.com/articledetail.asp?c=1&i=6273
22. "Libya rebels says ICC decision rules out Gaddafi talks", Reuters, 29 June 2011, http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/28/us-france-libya-idUSTRE75R4LL20110628
23. "ICC Indictment Of Gaddafi The Right, Smart Move - OpEd", Eurasia Review, 29 June 2011, http://www.eurasiareview.com/icc-indictment-of-gaddafi-the-right-smart-move-oped-29062011/
24. "Doubts surround Gaddafi arrest warrants", Al Jazeera, 29 June 2011, http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/06/20116287132175572.html
25. "Analysts: Warrant for Gadhafi Could Complicate His Possible Departure" by Laurel Bowman, Voice of America, 29 June 2011, http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Analysts-Warrant-for-Gadhafi-Could-Complicate-His-Possible-Departure-124681674.html
26. "ICC issues Gaddafi arrest warrant", DPA, 28 June 2011, http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/africa/news/article_1647816.php/ICC-issues-Gaddafi-arrest-warrant
27. "Libyan Rebels Celebrate Gadhafi Arrest Warrant" by Corey Flintoff , NPR, 28 June 2011, http://www.npr.org/2011/06/27/137451415/libyan-rebels-celebrate-gadhafi-arrest-warrant?ps=cprs
28. "Will the ICC Help Defeat Qaddafi?" Deborah Jerome, Council of Foreign Relations, 28 June 2011, http://www.cfr.org/libya/icc-help-defeat-qaddafi/p25387
29. "Libya fires back at Kadhafi arrest warrant", Radio Netherlands Africa, 28 June 2011, http://www.rnw.nl/africa/bulletin/libya-fires-back-kadhafi-arrest-warrant-1
30. "ICC's Ocampo: 'Justice will be done in Libya'", Al Jazeera, 28 June 2011, http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/06/2011628103224511523.html
31. "Libya: Gaddafi must be judged, but "it is not for NATO" to arrest him", Ennahar, 28 June 2011, http://www.ennaharonline.com/en/international/6952.html
32. "Zuma disappointed by Gaddafi warrant", Reuters, 28 June 2011, http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/zuma-disappointed-by-gaddafi-warrant-1.1089795
33. "Russia hopes ICC arrest warrant for Gaddafi 'to not harms conflict resolution'", Milli Az, 28 June 2011, http://en.trend.az/regions/world/russia/1897749.html
34. "Prosecutor sees Gaddafi endgame, China cautious" Nick Carey and Aaron Gray-Block, Reuters, 28 June 2011, http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCATRE7270JP20110628?sp=true
35. "Qaddafi Out of Options as War-Crimes Indictment Limits Exile Destinations" Flavia Krause-Jackson and Caroline Alexander, Bloomberg News, 28 June 2011, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-06-27/qaddafi-out-of-options-as-war-crimes-indictment-limits-exile-destinations.html
36. "No evidence of Libya Viagra rape claims. But war crimes? Plenty", Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2011, http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Backchannels/2011/0624/No-evidence-of-Libya-Viagra-rape-claims.-But-war-crimes-Plenty
37. "Will ICC Arrest Warrants for Qaddafi Make Any Difference?" by Max Fisher, The Atlantic, http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/06/will-icc-arrest-warrants-for-qaddafi-make-any-difference/241078/
38. "Kadhafi warrants show need for justice is clear: US", AFP, 27 June 2011, http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hpYm20DmrJ4XdlmOLzL96AVb0bNA?docId=CNG.e7376cbce4a12ff91d083769f26014f5.4b1

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CICC's policy on the referral and prosecution of situations before the ICC:

The Coalition for the ICC is not an organ of the court. The CICC is an independent NGO movement dedicated to the establishment of the International Criminal Court as a fair, effective, and independent international organization. The Coalition will continue to provide the most up-to date information about the ICC and to help coordinate global action to effectively implement the Rome Statute of the ICC. The Coalition will also endeavor to respond to basic queries and to raise awareness about the ICC's trigger mechanisms and procedures, as they develop. The Coalition as a whole, and its secretariat, do not endorse or promote specific investigations or prosecutions or take a position on situations before the ICC. However, individual CICC members may endorse referrals, provide legal and other support on investigations, or develop partnerships with local and other organizations in the course of their efforts.

Communications to the ICC can be sent to: ICC P.O. box 19519 2500 CM the Hague The Netherlands