Two junior ministers from the far-right PVV party claim they have been banned from speaking at an international women’s rights event organised under the banner of the United Nations.

Enschede city council, which is co-hosting this year’s Orange the World gathering, said it was considering handing back the leadership of the event over the treatment of deputy justice minister Ingrid Coenradie and deputy health minister Vicky Maeijer.

“The presence of the two PVV junior ministers at the launch event was unacceptable for UN Women Netherlands,” a council spokesman told the Telegraaf. “In the council’s view all ministers and junior ministers are welcome in our city.”

UN Women, the United Nations’ gender equality agency, denied the ministers had been banned from the event and accused the council of causing the row by refusing to let them face critical questions on the Dutch government’s policies on women’s rights.

“There is every reason to test the current government’s mettle on the disappointing passages in its programme on tackling violence against women and girls,” a spokesman said.

“The city council of Enschede refused to allow the junior ministers to be questioned on their position on this important issue.”

“Outrageous and unacceptable”

It added that former ministers such as Sigrid Kaag and Robbert Dijkgraaf had agreed to answer critical questions when they attended the event in previous years.

Enschede city council is now considering whether to go ahead with the event, which is due to start on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and run until International Human Rights Day on December 10.

Coenradie and Meijer called it “outrageous and unacceptable that an organisation that specifically stands for female leadership and the rights of women in general should take this stance”.

UN Women has said it was looking at “the possibility of a rotating launch”, but did not name any alternative venues.

The PVV has tabled questions in parliament on the row, while party leader Geert Wilders said it was “unacceptable” to refuse to give a platform to the two ministers.