An uproar has broken out in Netherlandsafter an exhibition brought to the surface the racist attacks which were accepted by employees in the Ministry of Foreign Affairssince some of them were called “monkeys”.
The independent investigation, which was conducted in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, revealed that the ministry’s employees of color often felt excluded or marginalized by their white colleagues. Although they were generally not personally abused themselves, they often heard derogatory comments about other persons because of their skin color, religion or origin.
Some employees said, according to the report, that some were repeatedly called “monkeys” or “boquito” – after a gorilla that escaped from a Dutch zoo in 2007 – and were hurt. Others were called “negroes” or “Zwarte Piet” (“Black Peter”, a controversial figure in the folklore of the Low Countries).
One official called the African states “monkey countries,” the document, which was compiled based on interviews with 33 people and focus groups involving a total of 47 employees, continued.
Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra described the conclusions of the investigation as “painful and shocking”. “What some colleagues in the ministry and in (diplomatic) missions around the world have experienced is unacceptable,” he tweeted. He also noted that some respondents said they felt “ignored” and that local embassy staff in particular felt left out.
“The question arises whether there is institutional racism. We conclude that this is happening,” the report emphasizes, with the Dutch Foreign Ministry apologizing.
Source: News Beast
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
