Council of Europe: Netherlands must do more against violence in youth care

STRASBOURG – Most children interviewed by the Committee reported being treated well by the staff, who also intervened quickly when violence broke out among the children themselves. However, several children and youth care workers also indicated that children are sometimes still held in a painful and forceful manner, which is actually not allowed.

The Committee sees this as a possible violation of the Convention on Human Rights.

Since January 2024, new rules regarding the forceful and painful restraint of children in youth care have been in effect. However, the Committee observes that these are not always adhered to, particularly due to the safety concerns of the staff. There is also confusion about the rules and how children may be restrained.

The Committee calls on the Netherlands to conduct more inspections and to establish an effective complaints mechanism to map any violence in youth care. It also acknowledges that there are limited financial resources in youth care to do this. The Council has shared a statement from the Netherlands in which the cabinet says it will work on the Committee’s recommendations.

Closed youth care institutions have long been under scrutiny. For instance, Jason Bhugwandass published findings about the ZIKOS departments, intended for children with complex psychiatric problems. This was the most severe form of closed youth care. The report by Bhugwandass revealed that the departments were unsafe for the children residing there. The inspection later confirmed this after investigation. The ZIKOS departments have since been permanently closed.

(June 20, 2025)