A committee set up by the Dutch Minister of Justice in June 1996 to look into all aspects of gay marriage has recommended that lesbians and gays should be treated the same as heterosexuals as far as marriage is concerned including being given the right to adopt children.
As reported in the Autumn 1996 issue of G&LH, Kees Waaldijk, a GALHA member who lectures in law at the University of Leiden, was appointed to serve on this committee.
The Scandinavian countries already have legislation which gives same-sex couples pension, taxation and inheritance rights equivalent to those enjoyed by heterosexual couples, but no national legislature has gone so far as permitting them to adopt children.
The recommendations have drawn wide political support and could become law before the next General Election in May 1998.