Children’s rights in Netherlands ‘need improvement’

The Dutch branches of the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF and Defence for Children International say much still needs to be done to improve children’s rights in the Netherlands. The organisations are releasing the first annual State of the World’s Children report.

The report’s findings criticise the manner in which illegal children are treated in the Netherlands, failures to take sufficient action against child abuse and the waiting lists in child care. The organisations also condemn the increase in the number of children in penitentiaries.

Studies conducted five years ago also came to the conclusion that the Netherlands did not comply with its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Source: Radio Netherlands, 21 January 2008

Also read the article: Netherlands failing on children’s rights, Radio Netherlands, 21 January 2008