Advancing human rights research in the Netherlands: a “Herculean task” – An interview with the newly appointed Chair of the NNHRR Steering Committee, Dr. Jasper Krommendijk

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, user-scalable=no" /> <title>Advancing human rights research in the Netherlands: a “Herculean task” – An interview with the newly appointed Chair of the NNHRR Steering Committee, Dr. Jasper Krommendijk</title> <meta name="description" value="" /> <meta name="robots" content="Index, Follow" /> <meta name="theme-color" content="#e85211"> <link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="/content/favicon.ico"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/content/images/touch-icon-iphone.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="76x76" href="/content/images/touch-icon-ipad.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="120x120" href="/content/images/touch-icon-iphone-retina.png"> <link href="/Content/main.less?Main=%23e85211&v=1" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" />  <link href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Lato:400,300,700,400italic,700italic,300italic' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-20864184-1"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'UA-20864184-1', { 'anonymize_ip': true }); </script> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.asser.nl/Content/Render/media/https://www.asser.nl/content/images/footer/logo.png_W150_H120_CRCenter95.png" /> </head> <body id="" class="news-item subsite"> <div class="layout-wrapper">  <header class="layout-header fixed"> <button class="site-button site-menu-button"> <span class="hamburger menu-icon"> <span class="part"></span> <span class="part"></span> <span class="part"></span> </span> <span class="text text-open"> Menu </span> <span class="text text-close"> Close </span> </button> <div class="top-header"> <div class="container"> <style> div.top-header div.container { text-align: left; } @media screen and (max-width: 990px) { img.nnhrrLogoImage { height: 50px !important; padding-top: 1px !important; } } </style> <a href="/" class="top-header-logo" title="Go back to T.M.C. Asser Instituut Homepage" style="width: 250px;position: absolute;margin-left: 3%; "> <img src="/content/images/layout/logo_asser_horizontal.png" alt="Asser Institute - Centre for International & European Law" /> </a> <a href="/nnhrr/" class="nnhrrLogo" title="Go back to NNHRR Homepage" style=""> <img class="nnhrrLogoImage" src="/content/images/NNHRR-logo.png" alt="Netherlands Network of Human Rights Research" style="position: absolute; height: 90px; padding-top:10px;margin-left: 43%;" /> </a> <br class="header-login-spacer" /> <a href="https://www.humanrightshere.com/" target="_blank" class="top-header-login" title="Human Rights Here Blog"> <img src="https://www.humanrightshere.com/Content/images/HumanRightsHereBlog128circle.png" width="100" height="100" alt="Human Rights Here Blog" /> </a> </div> </div> <nav class="site-menu js-site-menu"> <div class="container"> <ul class="navbar-nav"> <li class=''> <a href="/nnhrr/">Home </a> </li> <li class=" has-children "> <a href="/nnhrr/about-us/">About us </a> <ul> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/about-us/">About us </a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/about-us/tasks/">Tasks</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/about-us/steering-committee/">Steering Committee</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/about-us/member-institutions/">Member Institutions</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/about-us/advisory-board/">Advisory Board</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/about-us/the-tmc-asser-instituut/">The T.M.C. Asser Instituut</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/about-us/contact-us/">Contact Us</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/about-us/biennial-report/">Biennial Report</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class=" has-children "> <a href="/nnhrr/events/">Events </a> <ul> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/events/">Events </a> </li> <li class=" has-children"> <a href="/nnhrr/events/annual-toogdag/">Annual Toogdag</a> <ul> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/annual-toogdag/">Annual Toogdag</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/annual-toogdag/2024/">2024</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/annual-toogdag/2023/">2023</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/annual-toogdag/2022/">2022</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/annual-toogdag/2021/">2021</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/annual-toogdag/2020/">2020</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/annual-toogdag/2019/">2019</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/annual-toogdag/2018/">2018</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class=" has-children"> <a href="/nnhrr/events/phd-training-for-1st-and-2nd-year-students/">PhD Training for 1st and 2nd Year Students</a> <ul> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/phd-training-for-1st-and-2nd-year-students/">PhD Training for 1st and 2nd Year Students</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/phd-training-for-1st-and-2nd-year-students/2024/">2024</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/phd-training-for-1st-and-2nd-year-students/2023/">2023</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/phd-training-for-1st-and-2nd-year-students/2021/">2021</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/phd-training-for-1st-and-2nd-year-students/2020/">2020</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/phd-training-for-1st-and-2nd-year-students/2019/">2019</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/phd-training-for-1st-and-2nd-year-students/2018/">2018</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class=" has-children"> <a href="/nnhrr/events/phd-training-for-3rd-and-4th-year-students/">PhD Training for 3rd and 4th Year Students</a> <ul> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/phd-training-for-3rd-and-4th-year-students/">PhD Training for 3rd and 4th Year Students</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/phd-training-for-3rd-and-4th-year-students/2024/">2024</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/phd-training-for-3rd-and-4th-year-students/2023/">2023</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/phd-training-for-3rd-and-4th-year-students/2021/">2021</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/phd-training-for-3rd-and-4th-year-students/2020/">2020</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/phd-training-for-3rd-and-4th-year-students/2019/">2019</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class=" has-children"> <a href="/nnhrr/events/doctoral-research-forum/">Doctoral Research Forum</a> <ul> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/doctoral-research-forum/">Doctoral Research Forum</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/doctoral-research-forum/2024/">2024</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/doctoral-research-forum/2022/">2022</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/events/doctoral-research-forum/2021/">2021</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li class=" has-children "> <a href="/nnhrr/membership/">Membership </a> <ul> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/membership/">Membership </a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/membership/member-database/">Member Database</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/membership/become-a-member/">Become a Member</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class=" has-children "> <a href="/nnhrr/working-groups/">Working Groups </a> <ul> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/working-groups/">Working Groups </a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/working-groups/human-rights-in-the-digital-age/">Human Rights in the Digital Age</a> </li> <li class=" has-children"> <a href="/nnhrr/working-groups/business-human-rights/">Business & Human Rights</a> <ul> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/working-groups/business-human-rights/">Business & Human Rights</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/working-groups/business-human-rights/events/">Events</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class=" has-children"> <a href="/nnhrr/working-groups/migration-borders/">Migration & Borders</a> <ul> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/working-groups/migration-borders/">Migration & Borders</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/working-groups/migration-borders/events/">Events</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class=" has-children"> <a href="/nnhrr/working-groups/human-rights-the-climate-crisis/">Human Rights & the Climate Crisis</a> <ul> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/working-groups/human-rights-the-climate-crisis/">Human Rights & the Climate Crisis</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/working-groups/human-rights-the-climate-crisis/events/">Events</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/working-groups/economic-social-cultural-rights/">Economic, Social & Cultural Rights</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/max-van-der-stoel-award/">Max van der Stoel Award </a> </li> <li class="current active has-children "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/">News </a> <ul> <li class="current active"> <a href="/nnhrr/news/">News </a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/upcoming-nnhrr-doctoral-research-forum/">Upcoming NNHRR Doctoral Research Forum</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/consolidation-the-netherlands-network-for-human-rights-research-now-incorporates-all-dutch-law-schools/">[Consolidation] ‘The Netherlands Network for Human Rights Research now incorporates all Dutch law schools’</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/covid-19-and-the-nnhrr/">COVID-19 and the NNHRR</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/max-van-der-stoel-human-rights-award-2019/">Max van der Stoel Human Rights Award 2019</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/our-first-doctoral-research-forum-provided-useful-feedback-a-safe-environment-and-inspiration/">Our first Doctoral Research Forum provided ‘useful feedback, a safe environment and inspiration’.</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/open-call-research-workshops-in-human-rights/">[Open call] Research Workshops in Human Rights</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/call-for-submissions-the-max-van-der-stoel-human-rights-award-2021/">[Call for submissions] The Max van der Stoel Human Rights Award 2021</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/programme-registration-fourth-annual-nnhrr-conference-human-rights-and-vulnerability/">[Programme & registration] Fourth Annual NNHRR Conference: Human Rights and Vulnerability</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/report-fourth-annual-nnhrr-conference-human-rights-and-vulnerability/">[Report] Fourth Annual NNHRR Conference: Human Rights and Vulnerability</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/interview-ernst-hirsch-ballin-the-ability-to-see-us-in-them-is-decisive-for-the-whole-issue-of-migration/">[Interview] Ernst Hirsch Ballin: ‘The ability to see ‘us in them’ is decisive for the whole issue of migration’</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/interview-charting-the-phd-journey-a-conversation-with-joëlle-trampert-and-stephanie-triefus/">[Interview] Charting the PhD Journey: A conversation with Joëlle Trampert and Stephanie Triefus</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/invitation-max-van-der-stoel-human-rights-award-2021-online-ceremony/">[Invitation] Max van der Stoel Human Rights Award 2021 online ceremony</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/invitation-nnhrr-online-lecture-with-prof-tom-ginsburg-democracies-and-international-law/">[Invitation] NNHRR Online Lecture with Prof Tom Ginsburg: 'Democracies and International Law'</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/max-van-der-stoel-human-rights-award-2021-for-phd-thesis-by-yousra-benfquih-a-book-that-challenges-readers-to-react/">Max van der Stoel Human Rights Award 2021 for PhD thesis by Yousra Benfquih: ‘A book that challenges readers to react’</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/2021-in-review-looking-back-moving-forward/">2021 in Review: Looking back, moving forward</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/online-symposium-decolonisation-and-human-rights-the-dutch-case/">[Online symposium] Decolonisation and human rights - The Dutch case</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/recording-available-covid-and-the-rights-of-citizens-a-conversation-with-prof-kim-rubenstein-on-the-australian-experience/">[Recording available] ‘Covid and the rights of citizens – a conversation with Prof Kim Rubenstein on the Australian experience’</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/interview-interdisciplinary-research-in-international-migration-law-isnt-being-done-enough/">[Interview] 'Interdisciplinary research in international migration law isn't being done enough'</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/programme-registration-fifth-annual-nnhrr-conference-human-rights-in-times-of-crisis/">[Programme & registration] Fifth Annual NNHRR Conference: Human Rights in (Times of) Crisis</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/out-now-video-on-mexico-v-smith-wesson-discussion-of-transnational-civil-litigation-and-corporate-liability-for-gun-violence/">[Out now] Video on Mexico v Smith & Wesson discussion of transnational civil litigation and corporate liability for gun violence</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/watch-now-dunja-mijatović-delivers-keynote-at-our-fifth-annual-conference/">[Watch Now] Dunja Mijatović Delivers Keynote at our Fifth Annual Conference</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/yvonne-donders-elected-to-the-un-human-rights-committee/">Yvonne Donders Elected to the UN Human Rights Committee</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/international-human-rights-law-urgent-legal-reforms-needed-as-victims-of-gun-violence-face-limited-access-to-courts-in-the-united-states/">[International human rights law] Urgent legal reforms needed as victims of gun violence face limited access to courts in the United States</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/programme-doctoral-research-forum-2022/">[Programme] Doctoral Research Forum 2022</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/the-second-doctoral-research-forum-of-the-nnhrr/">The second Doctoral Research Forum of the NNHRR</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/law-clinic-access-to-justice-for-gun-violence/">[Law clinic] Access to justice for gun violence</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/programme-registration-annual-follow-up-phd-training-2023/">[Programme & Registration] Annual Follow-Up PhD Training 2023</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/registration-sixth-annual-nnhrr-conference-looking-to-the-future-new-human-rights/">[Registration] Sixth Annual NNHRR Conference: Looking to the Future: New (Human) Rights</a> </li> <li class="current "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/advancing-human-rights-research-in-the-netherlands-a-herculean-task-an-interview-with-the-newly-appointed-chair-of-the-nnhrr-steering-committee-dr-jasper-krommendijk/">Advancing human rights research in the Netherlands: a “Herculean task” – An interview with the newly appointed Chair of the NNHRR Steering Committee, Dr. Jasper Krommendijk</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/programme-registration-annual-phd-training-2023-positioning-yourself-as-a-human-rights-scholar/">[Programme & Registration] Annual PhD Training 2023: Positioning Yourself as a Human Rights Scholar</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/second-nnhrr-report-from-research-to-impact/">[Second NNHRR Report] From Research to Impact</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/2023-2028-nnhrr-obtains-new-five-year-mandate/">[2023-2028] NNHRR obtains new five-year mandate</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/interview-new-phd-representatives/">[Interview] New PhD Representatives</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/registration-max-van-der-stoel-award-ceremony/">[Registration] Max van der Stoel Award Ceremony</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/humanrightsnow-series/">#HumanRightsNow! Series</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/congratulations-max-van-der-stoel-human-rights-award-2023-winners-announced/">[Congratulations!] Max van der Stoel Human Rights Award 2023 Winners Announced</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/call-for-contributions-human-rights-here-blog-symposium-palestine-israel-human-rights-and-international-law/">[Call for Contributions!] Human Rights Here Blog Symposium: Palestine, Israel, Human Rights and International Law</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/programme-registration-annual-phd-training-2024/">[Programme & Registration] Annual PhD Training 2024</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/call-for-abstracts-toogdag-2024-resilient-rights-tools-for-inclusion-and-justice/">[Call for Abstracts] Toogdag 2024: Resilient Rights: Tools for Inclusion and Justice</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/programme-registration-annual-follow-up-phd-training-2024/">[Programme & Registration] Annual Follow-up PhD Training 2024</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/call-for-abstracts-symposium-human-rights-reactions-to-economic-laws/">[Call for Abstracts] Symposium: Human Rights Reactions to Economic Laws</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/report-phd-training-for-1st-and-2nd-year-phd-students-2024/">[Report] PhD Training for 1st and 2nd Year PhD Students 2024</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/report-phd-training-for-3rd-and-4th-year-phd-students-2024/">[Report] PhD Training for 3rd and 4th Year PhD Students 2024</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/programme-registration-symposium-human-rights-reactions-to-economic-laws/">[Programme & Registration] Symposium: Human Rights Reactions to Economic Laws</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/programme-registration-toogdag-2024-annual-nnhrr-conference/">[Programme & Registration] Toogdag 2024: Annual NNHRR Conference</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/share-your-opinion-about-the-nnhrr-phd-members-satisfaction-survey/">[Share your opinion about the NNHRR!] PhD Members Satisfaction Survey</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/call-for-abstracts-phd-research-forum-2024/">[Call for Abstracts] PhD Research Forum 2024</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/call-for-abstracts-programme-registration-symposium-ending-the-climate-crisis-through-rights-based-climate-litigation-trends-challenges-and-opportunities/">[Call for Abstracts, Programme & Registration] Symposium: Ending the Climate Crisis through Rights-Based Climate Litigation? Trends, Challenges and Opportunities</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/report-reseach-workshop-on-the-implications-of-generative-ai-in-the-eu-data-and-copyright-protection-frameworks/">[Report] Reseach Workshop on the Implications of Generative AI in the EU Data and Copyright Protection Frameworks</a> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/news/research-workshop-the-human-right-to-a-healthy-environment-what-impact-on-intellectual-property-laws/">[Research Workshop] The Human Right to a Healthy Environment: What Impact on Intellectual Property Laws?</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/human-rights-here-blog/">Human Rights Here Blog </a> </li> <li class=" has-children "> <a href="/nnhrr/grants/">Grants </a> <ul> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/grants/">Grants </a> </li> <li class=" has-children"> <a href="/nnhrr/grants/research-workshops-on-human-rights/">Research Workshops on Human Rights</a> <ul> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/grants/research-workshops-on-human-rights/">Research Workshops on Human Rights</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/grants/research-workshops-on-human-rights/upcoming-research-workshops/">Upcoming Research Workshops</a> </li> <li class=""> <a href="/nnhrr/grants/research-workshops-on-human-rights/past-research-workshops/">Past Research Workshops</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class=" "> <a href="/nnhrr/grants/conference-attendance-grants/">Conference Attendance Grants</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="site-search menu-button"> <button class="site-button site-search-button" type="button"> <span class="magnifier menu-icon"> <span class="part"></span> <span class="part"></span> <span class="part"></span> </span> </button> </li> </ul> </div> </nav>  <div class="layout-breadcrumbs hidden-sm hidden-xs"> <div class="container"> <ul class="breadcrumbs"> <li> <a class="asser" href="/">To Asser.nl</a> </li> <li> <a href="/nnhrr/">NNHRR<i class="glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-right"></i></a> </li> <li> <a href="/nnhrr/news/">News<i class="glyphicon glyphicon-chevron-right"></i></a> </li> <li> <span>Advancing human rights research in the Netherlands:...</span> </li> </ul> </div> </div>  <div class="layout-search-container js-search"> <div class="container"> <form class="layout-search" id="frmSearch" action="/search/"> <input type="text" class="layout-search-input" id="ipSearch" placeholder="Search..." name="q"/> <input type="submit" class="layout-search-submit" value="Search"/> </form> </div> </div> </header>  <div class="main-content " id="maincontent"> <section class="container"> <div class="row">  <aside class="left_menu col-sm-3 hidden-xs"> <nav class="left_menu-list-container" role="navigation">   </nav> </aside>  <section class="main-content-news col-sm-7"> <article> <h1>Advancing human rights research in the Netherlands: a “Herculean task” – An interview with the newly appointed Chair of the NNHRR Steering Committee, Dr. Jasper Krommendijk</h1> <span class="text-muted detail-date">Published 13 March 2023</span> <br /><span class="detail-date">By Melanie Schneider </span> <br /> <br /> <figure class="news-item-image-container"> <img src="/media/796201/foto-jasper-2022-1.jpg?center=0.23466666666666666,0.525&mode=crop&width=387&height=190&rnd=133231814990000000" /> <figcaption class="picture-caption"></figcaption> </figure> <p>This post was originally published on the <a href="https://www.humanrightshere.com/page/welcome-to-human-rights-here">Human Rights Here</a> blog on 10 March 2023 and can be found <a href="https://www.humanrightshere.com/post/advancing-human-rights-research-in-the-netherlands-a-herculean-task-an-interview-with-the-newly-appointed-chair-of-the-nnhrr-steering-committee-dr-jasper-krommendijk">here</a>. </p> <p><em>On 1 January 2023, Dr. Jasper Krommendijk became the new Chair of the NNHRR (Netherlands Network of Human Rights Research) Steering Committee succeeding Prof. Yvonne Donders (University of Amsterdam).<span> </span></em><em>Jasper is Associate Professor of International Law and European Law at Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, where he directs the Research Centre for State and Law (SteR). Jasper has been a member of the NNHRR Steering Committee, where he was elected to his new role by his peers, since September 2020. We sat down with Jasper to discuss his vision for the NNHRR in the context of the contemporary research landscape, as well as his own work in the field of human rights. </em><span id="continue"></span></p> <p><strong>What inspired you to pursue the leadership role of Chair of the NNHRR's Steering Committee?</strong></p> <p>I have always been committed to the Network and its predecessor (the Netherlands School of Human Rights). During my doctoral studies, I was a PhD representative in the Steering Committee and participated in and co-organised several of the School’s activities. I especially valued (and still value!) the many helpful interactions with PhDs and senior researchers at other universities. It is unique to have all universities within one country interacting with each other in such an intensive way.</p> <p><strong>What do you think are the Network’s strengths?</strong></p> <p>The Network has in the past years grown in size: all law faculties in the Netherlands are now a member. This has also led to an almost threefold increase in the Network’s membership over the past three years. The Network, thus, unites research within the Netherlands: it has contributed to cooperation among members and universities. Actually, the Network (or School) predated current tendencies within the academic field to foster cooperation between faculties instead of competition via<span> </span><em>sectorplannen.<span> </span></em>Another strength of the Network are its flagship activities: the yearly Toogdag organised by one (or more) participating universities as well as the training activities for PhDs. </p> <p><strong>How do you plan to advance the Network's mission and goals?</strong></p> <p>As Chair I can build on the phenomenal work of prof. dr. Yvonne Donders as well as all the wonderful colleagues in the<span> </span><a href="/nnhrr/about-us/steering-committee/">Steering Committee</a>. I see my role very much in terms of continuing the current strategy. There is some room to broaden the Network and make it more relevant for colleagues working on Dutch law, be it criminal law, administrative law and private law. Recent developments and cases such as<span> </span><a href="https://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/#!/details?id=ECLI:NL:RBDHA:2021:5339">Shell/ Milieudefensie</a><span> </span>or the ‘Toeslagenaffaire’ show the increasing relevance of human rights beyond traditional areas of interests and the usual suspects.</p> <p><strong>How do you see the current landscape of human rights research evolving in the future<span> </span></strong><strong>in the competitive global academic market and in the Netherlands in particular: what are particular challenges?</strong></p> <p>Human rights research in the Netherlands has had a solid reputation for decades. One challenge for individual researchers is substantive and relates to the almost Herculean task of keeping track of all relevant developments given the multiplicity of sources and mechanisms of human rights law: UN, regional (EU, ECHR, ACHR, ACHPR etc) and national. The EU increasingly becomes a relevant human rights “actor”, not only in terms of Charter jurisprudence of the Court of Justice, but also legislation such as the<span> </span><a href="https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/digital-services-act-package">Digital Services Act</a>,<span> </span><a href="https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/">AI Act</a>, and<span> </span><a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_1145">Corporate sustainability due diligence</a>. Another challenge for the field is Open Science. Legal journals operate in a commercial market and immediate open access publishing in human rights can be difficult. I am happy that the<span> </span><a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/home/nqh">Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights</a>, the journal closely associated with the Network, started to be fully open access as of January 2023.</p> <p><strong>In your work, you have focused on the impact of international and European law on a domestic level. You recently finished a five-year project called 'It takes two to tango'. What w</strong><strong>as</strong><strong><span> </span>the project about and what were your main findings?</strong> </p> <p>This research project focused not so much on human rights as such, but primarily examined the functioning of the most important EU law procedure: the preliminary reference procedure. In the<span> </span><a href="https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/national-courts-and-preliminary-references-to-the-court-of-justice-9781800374164.html">monograph</a><span> </span>published at the end of 2021, I examined why national courts make preliminary references to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), and what the referring court does with the answers. I discuss the wide variety of motives of national courts, ranging from primarily legal to politico-strategic reasons. Especially in areas in which human rights play a role, such as migration and asylum as well as criminal law cooperation, references are often the result of strategic litigation on the side of various actors involved (see, for an example the recent ECJ judgment in relation to ex officio review of detention of illegal third country nationals, discussed<span> </span><a href="https://verfassungsblog.de/picking-primacy-over-procedural-autonomy/">here</a>).</p> <p><strong>What project are you currently working on or plan to work on? </strong></p> <p>I am currently working on a three years Jean Monnet project on rule of law in the EU and the national legal order (<a href="https://www.ru.nl/law/ster/research/jean-monnet-chair-on-rule-law-the-eu-and-national/">EURoLNAT</a>). At the moment, I am conducting interviews with policy officials involved in the negotiations in relation to<span> </span><a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?toc=OJ%3AL%3A2020%3A433I%3ATOC&uri=uriserv%3AOJ.LI.2020.433.01.0001.01.ENG">Regulation 2020/2092</a> on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget. This is the rule of law conditionality mechanism used to<span> </span><a href="https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/12/12/rule-of-law-conditionality-mechanism/">suspend</a><span> </span>€6.3 billion of EU spending to Hungary. This case study forms part of an evaluation on the Dutch influence on EU policy and legislative making coordinated by the <a href="https://english.iob-evaluatie.nl/">Policy and Operations Evaluation Department (IOB)</a>. Part of the Jean Monnet project also involves providing guest lessons, together with law students, at primary schools about the rule of law.</p> <p><strong>How would you say has your field of research evolved in the past decade?</strong></p> <p>Ever since I started my PhD in November 2008 I have been working on human rights, starting with UN human rights. After completion of my PhD I shifted to EU law, focusing on EU institutional law and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights as well as EU’s relationship with the ECHR. The common denominator in my research is the impact of international and European law at the domestic level: how can the ‘law in the books’ be translated to ‘law-in-action’? How effective are international courts and how do (international) legal procedures function in practice? My scientific mission is truly understanding and offering explanations on the law with a specific interest in human rights and effective judicial protection.</p> <p><strong>Many of the NNHRR members are PhD students. As a former doctoral candidate yourself who has channeled their research agenda into a successful academic career, what would you say are important things to keep in mind as one transitions from the student world to the job market and start a PhD?</strong></p> <p>Before I started, I worked for some months at the Dutch Ministry of Justice: this was a wonderful experience and made me also realise that I wanted another intellectual challenge before starting a “proper” job. Starting a PhD journey is a unique moment in your life. Never before and again did I have the time to immerse myself in one specific topic. As a word of warning I want to emphasise to (PhD) students that this does not mean that you should work largely on your own and have the ambition to publish a<span> </span><em>magnus opus<span> </span></em>that will change the world. Take it lightly: it is also just work! Enjoy it and take the time to connect with fellow PhD students, organize activities, present at conferences and conduct a research stay abroad. I liked the academic world and the diversity of tasks (teaching, research, editorship roles, advisory positions, management etc) so much that I lingered on much longer than perhaps expected.</p> <p><strong>Could you share a challenging professional experience you have had as an academic and how you were able to overcome it?</strong></p> <p>What I find challenging about the academic world is that the sky is the limit in terms of what you can achieve: it is never enough and you can always publish more or go to the umptieth conference. A lot depends on your own initiative and time. This can be tricky and can easily slip into a tendency to work more and more, in weekends and during evenings. I have always tried to resist this temptation, also forced by my decision of having a family with kids at a relatively young age (already during the PhD trajectory). This has -luckily- forced me to “switch off” from work and take my fair share of holidays. What is still challenging for me is saying “no” to new and nice opportunities that arise, including this role as Chair. So far taking on these new challenges has brought me a lot of joy: a varied academic life!</p> <br /> </article>  <header class="main-content-header"> <div class="buttonContainer main-content-header-buttons hidden-xs"> <div class="main-content-header-button icon icon--printer-icon btnPrint" alt="Print this page"></div> </div> </header> <footer class="main-content-footer"> <h3 class="main-content-footer-title">Share this page:</h3> <ul class="main-content-sm-buttons"> <li class="main-content-sm-button"> <a href="https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.asser.nl%2Fnnhrr%2Fnews%2Fadvancing-human-rights-research-in-the-netherlands-a-herculean-task-an-interview-with-the-newly-appointed-chair-of-the-nnhrr-steering-committee-dr-jasper-krommendijk%2F" title="Bluesky" target="_blank"> <img src="/content/images/icon/bluesky_icon.png" alt="Bluesky" title="Bluesky" style="vertical-align: baseline;"> </a> </li> <li class="main-content-sm-button"> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.asser.nl%2Fnnhrr%2Fnews%2Fadvancing-human-rights-research-in-the-netherlands-a-herculean-task-an-interview-with-the-newly-appointed-chair-of-the-nnhrr-steering-committee-dr-jasper-krommendijk%2F" title="Facebook" target="_blank"> <img src="/content/images/facebook_icon.png" alt="Facebook" title="Facebook" style="vertical-align: baseline;"> </a> </li> <li class="main-content-sm-button"> <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.asser.nl%2Fnnhrr%2Fnews%2Fadvancing-human-rights-research-in-the-netherlands-a-herculean-task-an-interview-with-the-newly-appointed-chair-of-the-nnhrr-steering-committee-dr-jasper-krommendijk%2F" title="LinkedIn" target="_blank"> <img src="/content/images/linkedin_icon.png" alt="LinkedIn" title="LinkedIn" style="vertical-align: baseline;"> </a> </li> <li class="main-content-sm-button"> <a href="mailto:?body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.asser.nl%2Fnnhrr%2Fnews%2Fadvancing-human-rights-research-in-the-netherlands-a-herculean-task-an-interview-with-the-newly-appointed-chair-of-the-nnhrr-steering-committee-dr-jasper-krommendijk%2F&subject=T.M.C.%20Asser%20Instituut:%20Advancing%20human%20rights%20research%20in%20the%20Netherlands%3A%20a%20%E2%80%9CHerculean%20task%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%93%20An%20interview%20with%20the%20newly%20appointed%20Chair%20of%20the%20NNHRR%20Steering%20Committee%2C%20Dr.%20Jasper%20Krommendijk" title="Email" target="_blank"> <img src="/content/images/email_icon.png" alt="Email" title="Email" style="vertical-align: baseline;"> </a> </li> <li class="main-content-sm-button"> <a href="http://twitter.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.asser.nl%2Fnnhrr%2Fnews%2Fadvancing-human-rights-research-in-the-netherlands-a-herculean-task-an-interview-with-the-newly-appointed-chair-of-the-nnhrr-steering-committee-dr-jasper-krommendijk%2F" title="Tweet" target="_blank"> <img src="/content/images/twitter_icon.png" alt="Tweet" title="Tweet" style="vertical-align: baseline;"> </a> </li> </ul> <div class="main-content-footer__print">© T.M.C. Asser Instituut, The Hague, The Netherlands</div> </footer>  </section> </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="layout-push"></div> <footer class="layout-footer"> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> </div> </div> </div> </footer>  <script src="/bundles/jquery?v=S2Eg6d08eUtNqCFaTwg2b2KLyf4Av9aLNtmyy3bgjl41"></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Advancing human rights research in the Netherlands: a “Herculean task” – An interview with the newly appointed Chair of the NNHRR Steering Committee, Dr. Jasper Krommendijk