Welcome on the website of Defence for Children International the Netherlands.

SIGN THE PETITION

In the Netherlands there are children who have to live on the street.  The Dutch authorities evict undocumented children and their parents from reception centers following a failed residency bid. These children find temporally shelter by spending the night in a park, at a station or in a bus stop.

The European Committee of Social Rights said this denies children their basic right to protection. The Committee found that the Netherlands' policy of evicting children and their families from reception centers violates the rights contained in the European Social Charter, pointing out that the right to shelter is directly linked to the right to life, social protection, respect for the child’s human dignity and best interests.

The Dutch authorities seem to be reluctant implementing the Committees decision and continue with the eviction of families. Lately the Minister of Justice said he will separate children and parents if there is no place to stay. He proposes to send the children to youth care institutions and leave the parents on the street. This means a new human rights violation, namely of the right to family life.

The Convention on the Rights of the Children says the authorities should help parents who are not able to afford their children with an adequate standard of living, including housing.  Nobody should live on the streets, especially children.

The Netherlands should stop immediately evicting families with children. Today. Now.

• Sign the petition here
• Watch the YouTube movie  See the Child Rights Information Network about this
• Read the Committee's decision on the merits here
• Read about children experiences after eviction in the Netherlands