Flanders child abuse reports rise, government allocates €1.5 million

In 2025, Flemish authorities recorded 11,367 children reported to the Trust Centres for Child Abuse – a 4 % increase over the previous year. The Welfare Minister, Caroline Gennez, announced an additional €1.5 million for the trust centres and the expert centre to handle the growing caseload.

The rise is attributed to three main factors: a lower threshold for reporting as professionals become better trained; heightened focus on emotional maltreatment and partner violence that often involves children; and broader societal pressures such as financial stress and limited mental‑health resources that push vulnerable families toward crisis.

The funding decision has sparked political criticism. Observers claim the money mainly benefits centres linked to the CD&V party network, pointing to recent appointments and past lobbying. Child‑rights commissioner highlighted that Belgium still lacks a law guaranteeing children a violence‑free upbringing, underscoring the policy gap behind the statistics.