30 years of the Convention, but many Dutch children are unaware of their rights
Eurochild member Kinderrechten Collectief, in collaboration with State of Youth NL, has published a report highlighting new survey results on key issues such as child participation, well-being, equal opportunities, youth care, and juvenile criminal law.
The majority of young people in the Netherlands aged 12 to 18 (56%) are unaware of the special rights they have under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. On a scale from 0 to 100, they rate the government’s responsiveness to their opinions at just 38.
The report highlights urgent concerns from young people about the government’s adherence to their rights. In addition to a lack of awareness regarding children's rights, the issues raised include mental well-being, equal opportunities, youth care, and juvenile justice. Alarmingly, the Netherlands still lacks a comprehensive children's rights strategy to address these critical challenges.
Mental Well-being
Young people are deeply concerned about the stress and pressure they face at school (30%). They feel this issue must be addressed first, as it leads to fear of failure (57%). They want a reduction in performance and testing pressures to allow for a greater focus on their overall development (58%).
Equal Opportunities
Young people view the lack of representation for all voices and the exclusion of certain groups as an urgent problem (36%). They believe resolving this issue is crucial, as it leads to mental health challenges such as stress or sadness (53%). Many also feel the government should provide greater support for young people living in poverty (48%).
Juvenile Justice
In terms of juvenile justice, young people feel that too much emphasis is placed on the crime rather than the individual child (22%). They believe this needs to be addressed immediately, as it results in improper treatment and the risk of trauma in detention facilities (51%). They suggest that proper education and training for young offenders could serve as a viable solution (46%).
Youth Care
In the area of youth care, children and young people also express urgent concerns: they feel they lack sufficient input in decisions regarding their situations (28%). As a result, many feel "forgotten" and not properly heard or seen (54%). They urge the Netherlands to ensure easier access to care, with no long waiting periods (56%).
