The inquiry has to answer the question of whether the research, education and other activities (including products and expressed opinions) of the CCHRC have been established in an independent manner. The VU’s Executive Board decided to order this inquiry, and last week it appointed the members of the Committee of Inquiry. The chairman of the Committee is former rector magnificus and chairman of the Executive Board of Leiden University, and also emeritus professor of private law, Carel Stolker. The Committee expects to present its report by the end of May.
The Executive Board decided to order the inquiry after questions were raised about the centre. Rector magnificus Jeroen Geurts says: “ We take this matter very seriously. This is why the Executive Board has stopped the funding from the Chinese University and why the Centre’s activities have been suspended. I am pleased that this committee, under the leadership of professor Stolker, will investigate the independence of the Centre. As a university, we are always prepared to have our activities reviewed. This is in line with the open character of VU Amsterdam.”
The members of the Committee of Inquiry are:
- Prof. mr. Carel Stolker (chairman)
- Prof. dr. Inge Hutter (EUR)
- Prof. mr. Willem van Genugten (Tilburg University)
- Prof. dr. Gerrie ter Haar (EUR)
The Committee of Inquiry will be administratively supported by external secretary drs. Frans Los.
Committee members
Prof. dr. Carel Stolker
Carel Stolker is an emeritus professor of private law at Leiden University. He has held numerous scientific (NWO), social and policymaking positions. During 2011-2016 he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Fund for Scientific Research - Flanders (FWO), and he was a member (2005) and vice-chairman (2010) of two review committees of the Dutch judiciary, respectively.
Prof. dr. Inge Hutter
Inge Hutter is a professor of participatory and qualitative research in population and development at Erasmus University, Rotterdam. Since 2015 she has been the rector of the International Institute of Social Studies, The Hague. She conducted research on health and development (reproductive health/rights, nutrition, ageing) in India, Cameroon, Malawi and Northern Netherlands. She has years of experience in conducting fieldwork in the global south.
Prof. dr. Willem van Genugten
Willem van Genugten is an emeritus professor international law at Tilburg University. Between 1991 and 2006, he was also a professor of Human Rights at Radboud University. In the years 1991-2013 he was a member, and later chairman, of the Dutch government's standing committee on human rights, from 1996 part of the Advisory Council on International Affairs (AIV). He chaired various education and research review committees.
Prof. dr. Gerrie ter Haar
Gerrie ter Haar is an emeritus professor Religion and Development at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam with a special focus on human rights worldwide. Her positions include a.o. vice-president of the International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR) and is one of the founders of the African Association for the Study of Religions (AASR).