IND Social Advisory Council

Corinne Dettmeijer (head)
‘In my days as a judge, I often had to deal with cases involving foreign nationals. These cases interested me a lot. As National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings and Sexual Violence against Children, I also encountered the IND. At the time, I thought the IND was rather rigid. That can be improved. For me, it’s a nice challenge to contribute to the IND through the MAR.’

Petra van den Boomgaard
‘Immigration policy has my interest. In the European Parliament in Brussels, I was involved in the creation of immigration policy. As a researcher, I worked a lot on the Dutch immigration policy in the 1930s. But perhaps the most important perspective that contributes to my advisory job on the MAR is the annual visit I pay to the Sobibor extermination camp. Together with family of people who were murdered there, I remember the ultimate consequence of how people in dire straits may fare.’

Afshin Ellian
‘I was born in Iran and was invited to come to the Netherlands as a political refugee in 1989. I studied law in Tilburg and am now a professor at the law faculty of Leiden University. I value integration very highly because it improves citizenship and social cohesion. At the same time, I think that integration and migration should belong to the security domain so that radicalisation and terrorist movements can be countered.’

Annemarie Heeringa
‘I work as a team leader at the Salvation Army. At our department, we provide socio-legal assistance to undocumented victims of human trafficking. An important part of my work is explaining my clients how aliens law works and why the IND has taken certain decisions. When I do this, I sometimes notice that clients experience a large distance from the IND where the reasons and final decision are concerned. Through my participation in the MAR, I encounter the IND in a different way and can look at and experience the organisation differently.’

Freek Landmeter
‘For my work for Médecins Sans Frontières I’ve been in Rwanda, among other places. I know that the IND has complex cases. Sometimes, their nuance is lost in the media. But I want to know: what is really going on. I think it’s important that the IND has public support. Besides, every week I’m at the side of the football pitch with an employee of the IND and one of the COA. We then have interesting conversations and must watch out that we don’t miss a goal.’

Marian Spier
‘In the past, I worked for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. I’m now an entrepreneur and founder of IAMarian. I mostly work on projects that have social impact and bring about positive change. Diversity and inclusiveness are very important to me. I see migration as an expression of the human urge to strive for dignity, safety and a better future.’