Netherlands government apologizes for abuses in secure youth care

secure youth care government apology child protection Jeugdzorg Nederland Mirjam Sterk

The Dutch government has formally apologized to thousands of young people who were held in secure youth care facilities. During a ceremony in Ede, Minister for Long-term Care, Youth, and Sport Mirjam Sterk expressed regret for the suffering caused by unsafe environments, including instances of physical, mental, and sexual violence.

Research indicates that approximately 20,000 individuals have been placed in these restricted residential facilities over the last two decades. Findings from the Het Vergeten Kind Foundation suggest that 75% of surveyed youth in these settings developed additional psychological issues. The facilities allowed for the restriction of freedom, monitoring, and the use of isolation cells.

Ahmed Aboutaleb, chairman of Jeugdzorg Nederland, stated his goal to phase out closed youth care within two years, provided that viable and better alternatives are established. The apology was issued jointly by the cabinet, the Association of Netherlands Municipalities, and Jeugdzorg Nederland as a step toward recovery and systemic change.

Entities

Ahmed Aboutaleb · CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis · Centraal Planbureau · Dutch government · Ede · Forgotten Child Foundation · Het Vergeten Kind Foundation · Jeugdzorg Nederland · Mirjam Sterk · Netherlands · Vereniging van Nederlandse Gemeenten

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Research found that 75% of youth interviewed in closed youth care developed additional psychological problems.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Ahmed Aboutaleb, chairman of Jeugdzorg Nederland, aims to phase out closed youth care within two years. nieuws.nl
[○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately 20,000 people have been held in secure youth care facilities over the past twenty years.
[● 3 SOURCES] Youth in secure care faced unsafe environments, including physical, mental, and sometimes sexual violence. www.opennieuwsbank.nl · nieuws.nl · www.gld.nl
[● 4 SOURCES] Minister Mirjam Sterk offered apologies to youth in secure care on behalf of the government and several organizations. www.opennieuwsbank.nl · nieuws.nl · www.gld.nl