On the same day, the Human Rights Tulip was awarded at the Peace Palace. The Human Rights Tulip is an annual award presented by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to a human rights defender to support them in their work advancing, protecting and raising awareness about human rights around the world. This year the Tulip was awarded to Ayin Network, a Sudanese media platform that continues to report as war rages. Dutch Human Rights Ambassador Wim Geerts presented the award.

‘Where human rights are under pressure, engagement is a responsibility, not an option,’ says Gabriella Sancisi, Director of the Protocol and Host Country Affairs Department (DPG). ‘And DPG remains committed to security and justice for everyone. One very concrete way we do this is by facilitating the Netherlands’ role as host country for international organisations that contribute to achieving these goals.’

The Netherlands works with five clear priorities:
- rights for women and girls
- freedom of expression, online and offline
- freedom of religion and belief
- protecting human rights defenders
- rights for LGBTIQ+ persons

But there's also an important extra priority: fighting impunity. ‘This is something that is crucial, given the Netherlands’ role as host country to a range of international courts and tribunals.’