In the media
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Wake-up call for Dutch youth care after Vlaardingen foster abuseIn the media 06 November 2025Last year, the abuse of a girl by her foster parents shocked the Netherlands. Their trial begins today in a case that marks a turning point for youth ...
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Why are we failing to address the problems in youth care?In the media 03 November 2025Youth care in the Netherlands needs to change. A new alarming inspection report says that children’s safety is not guaranteed. Mariëlle Bruning, Profe...
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Staff shortages causing failures at Dutch youth protection agenciesIn the media 23 July 2025Children are not always immediately helped due to staff shortages. For years, youth protection agencies have used an emergency protocol. Mariëlle Brun...
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Painful restraint measures in youth care violate human rightsIn the media 14 July 2025Staff in Dutch youth care institutions use pain to control children. The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture says this violates the Europ...
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Largest youth protection agency in the Netherlands is failingIn the media 25 June 2025Inspectors say the William Schrikker Foundation, a leading Dutch youth protection agency, is failing in its duties. Mariëlle Bruning, Professor of Chi...
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Is an age limit for social media counterproductive?In de media 17 June 2025The call for a social media ban for children is louder than ever. Professor of Children's Rights Ton Liefaard argues in ‘Trouw’ newspaper that this wo...
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Is a stricter asylum policy legally feasible?In de media 28 May 2025Geert Wilders wants a stricter asylum policy, but is this realistic? Maartje van der Woude, Professor of Law and Society, and Mark Klaassen, assistant...
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Failures at foster care organisation Enver confirmed20 May 2025The Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) has found that foster care at stitching Enver is not up to scratch. Mariëlle Bruning, Professor of ...
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Children often not reunited with parents after out-of-home placementIn the media 24 April 2025A minority of children placed in care return home. Following publication of research by Leiden University, Mariëlle Bruning, Professor of Child Law, c...
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13 years old and a suspect in a stabbing incident: what happens now?25 February 2025The Dutch town of Schiedam was shocked this week by a fatal stabbing involving a 13-year-old victim and suspect. Mariëlle Bruning, Professor of Childr...
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‘Extreme human failure’ by Dutch youth care agencies in case of abused foster child31 January 2025Youth care agencies in the Netherlands failed completely to help an abused foster child according to a new investigation report. Mariëlle Bruning, Pro...
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Allowing foreign medicines violates Medicines Act29 November 2024The Netherlands is seeing an acute shortage of medicines. Research by Dutch newspaper ‘NRC’ shows that almost one in seven Dutch patients now relies o...
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We shouldn’t criticise Veilig Thuis – we should criticise the system31 October 2024Every day, Veilig Thuis employees receive hundreds of reports of domestic violence and child abuse. Despite their efforts, they are heavily criticised...
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Children are afraid to say the wrong thing to judges in divorce proceedings16 September 2024Do courts take children's experiences properly into account in divorce proceedings? Research by Villa Pinedo shows that children often fear saying the...
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What went wrong for the Vlaardingen girl in foster care?03 June 2024The case of the severely abused girl in foster care has caused outrage. Her foster carers are suspected of attempted manslaughter. What went wrong? Ma...