Defence for Children - Past, present and future

This year, Defence for Children Nederland is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Defence for Children is the only legal children's rights organisation in the Netherlands, located in Leiden on the Hooglandse Kerkgracht in the old children's orphanage. The lawyers who work there assist children, families, lawyers and care providers with their legal assistance needs on a daily basis. The Children's Rights Helpdesk handles around 1,000 cases each year in which children's rights are at stake and the organisation can make a difference free of charge.

Defence for Children investigates abuses and provides information to professionals, parents and children about children's rights. They also stand up for children so that their rights are respected and unjust systems and situations are addressed. We are committed to changing legislation and regulations to ensure that children's rights are always respected.

Director Mirjam Blaak

Mirjam Blaak has been the director of Defence for Children Netherlands for 5 years, she has worked there for 21 years. 'When I got to know the work of Defence for Children, I knew I wanted to be involved. After my studies in cultural anthropology, I did all kinds of work and I became acquainted with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and wanted to contribute to it. Because it concerns all aspects of children's lives and it concerns seeing children.'

'I called Stan Meuwese, the director at the time, every month to ask if I could come and work at Defence for Children. After three months he couldn't let me wait any longer. " The funding isn't in place yet, but come on, he said. "That was 21 years ago this year.'

'Working for Defence for Children also had another reason for me. In our home, everything was not self-evident. I was not placed out of home as a child, but that could have been the case. Because of that, I know that life is not something you can control and that problems can quickly arise in families. That parents do their best, but that they sometimes need support themselves. So that attention and understanding are needed for parents and that children can end up in a very vulnerable position that they cannot do anything about.'

'It is very important for children to be seen. That there are people who see them, as a person. That they have talents.'

'Then it is very important that there is support and that there are support figures for them. In my case, that was an uncle and aunt, they were there for us when things got difficult. But they also saw what I had to offer. Children need people to see them, as people. That they have talents.'

Convention on the Rights of the Child

'In my early days at Defence for Children, I developed a training for youth care workers on children's rights. My biggest project later was coordinating the Handbook of International Youth Law. In it, we described the Convention on the Rights of the Child in its broadest sense. It became an important reference work that has long been the basis for the Master's in Youth Law here in Leiden.'

'The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the basis of all the work that Defence for Children does. It is such a beautiful Convention to work with. It is a legal text that is still very modern and useful in the current context. With so much potential to be implemented again and again in the pedagogical context in which children grow up: schools, care institutions, daycare centres, parents. The Convention covers all aspects of children's lives and provides a contemporary vision of how you could read it and how you could apply it. It is a powerful and also political instrument to bring about change for children. Unfortunately, Defence for Children is still needed.'

'Not all children have someone who sees them, like I did. For example, these children end up in an institution, do not finish school, develop mental, financial and other problems, become victims of sexual abuse or sexual exploitation, and are haunted by that unjust start in life for the rest of their lives.'

'Defence for Children is there for all those children. We look at a child's story. Try to determine: what is going on? What is in their best interest, what does this child need and what is it entitled to? How can we ensure that these rights are realised? And is this a problem that affects more children? How do we ensure that there is also a structural solution to this problem?'

Miriam Blaak

'Defense for Children sees children. Sees their needs and interests. And sees their rights. Every child deserves to be seen and every child has the right to a safe childhood.'

The importance from a children's rights perspective

'Children have rights. But what that exactly means and how you can help as a child, parent or professional, there is still a lot of ground to be gained and we still have a role to play. Children's rights must always be properly taken into account in legislation, and policy must always consider whether the interests of the child are paramount. And in practice, that means that the professionals who work with children understand very well what the interests of the child are from a children's rights perspective. That knowledge is already known to many more people than when we started. So we see that in 40 years of Defence for Children, the Convention on the Rights of the Child has become better known in the Netherlands and that many more policymakers, professionals and judges refer to it than 40 years ago. The fact that a Children's Ombudsman has been established is partly due to our efforts.'

' Children are independent bearers of rights and should be seen first and foremost as human beings with their own needs, and not as an appendage of their parents.'

'In the meantime, we are building on what we started over the past 40 years: based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, we view children as independent bearers of rights, not as an appendage of their parents. And yes, we are committed to children in extra vulnerable circumstances. We know from health research that when you experience major traumatic experiences as a child in your early childhood up to the age of 18, this has an effect on your health later in life. These people become ill sooner, develop psychiatric problems sooner, and are less able to participate in the labor market. In order to prevent this, sufficient attention must be paid to children and what they need, and to prevent the traumatic experiences they experience from having consequences later in their adult lives. Only then can we do justice to children and build a healthier society with much lower costs. Children deserve our investment in this.'

Future

'We want a lot. In the future, we want all legal procedures that children may encounter to be child-friendly. Whether they are dealing with family law, criminal law or administrative law (asylum and migration procedures). That children are heard in a child-friendly manner, that their age and level of development (maturity) are always taken into account, that they understand procedures, are included in what it means, and that they can make their own voices heard so that they are not only talked about but also with. If we can make an even greater difference in the coming period, we will be at the heart of our task and this will help a great many children.'

'Combating and preventing the sexual exploitation of children in tourism also shows our perseverance and perseverance. We will continue to provide continuous information in the travel and tourism sector, from training to educating employees of travel organizations, hotels and holiday parks so that the sexual exploitation of children is detected, reported and stopped. And behind the scenes, not so visible, we have more than once been involved in arresting individuals or groups or those who were guilty of sexual exploitation of children abroad.'

'For a number of years now, we have also been active in stopping and preventing sexual exploitation online. Where when we started as an organization, that possibility did not even exist, now almost all cases of sexual exploitation of children start in the online environment, or at least there is an online component. We continue to work for a safe online environment for children, so that they can learn, play and develop safely both on the street and online.'

'Since the establishment of Defence for Children, we have continuously called for attention to the closed placement of minors in youth care and criminal law, the injustice there, the guarantees from children's rights that need to be better regulated. Unfortunately, we have to conclude that youth care has become less accessible for children who need it, and that measures that protect children are often used where they should not be used. For example, in the case of financial problems and threatened homelessness in families. Defence for Children continues to work to prevent the separation of parents and children, especially where this is not justified.'

'Successes at the Children's Rights Helpdesk, strategic legal cases that we win, it helps us to strengthen our core: realizing children's rights. Involving children and young people in our work is essential. Without children and young people we cannot do our work. We need their experiences to know what needs to be done differently. They help us to give substance to the meaning and scope of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.'

Former director Stan Meuwese

Former director of Defence for Children Netherlands, Stan Meuwese became involved with Defence for Children when it was still a volunteer organisation, based on his involvement in youth policy and his legal background. Under his leadership, the organisation is growing strongly. Among other things, he ensures that children and young people are taken seriously and are more involved in matters that concern them. He previously did this in his role as general secretary of the Council for Youth Development and the Council for Youth Policy. He finds it very important that young people themselves are represented in the Council, something that was not customary before. Stan Meuwese has meant a lot to child and youth participation in the Netherlands. He takes them seriously and encourages others to do the same and to involve children and young people in all matters that concern them. What are highlights for him?

'The importance of the organisation in putting children's rights on the national and international agenda, especially at a time when the concept of children's rights was not as self-evident as it is now. Also our international involvement in drawing up reports on child labour, tackling sexual exploitation of children and children in detention. These projects show the impact of Defence for Children on global children's rights issues. But also the importance of education about children's rights and developing teaching materials. The Handbook of International Youth Law also put Defence for Children on the map, where it was increasingly seen as a reliable source of information.'

'The distinction in focus and approach to the protection of children's rights ensures that Defence for Children plays an important role in putting this on the agenda. And thus occupies a unique position within the landscape of children's rights organisations.'

'An organisation like Defence for Children remains an authority in the field of education and knowledge about children's rights. This was and remains the case, because while other NGOs focused primarily on humanitarian aid, Defence for Children was always actively involved in protecting children's rights in various areas. This distinction in focus and approach ensured that Defence for Children played an important role in putting children's rights on the agenda and took up a unique position within the landscape of children's rights organisations.'

Future wish

'Going forward, it remains important to continuously evaluate and adapt to the changing landscape of children's rights. Defence for Children will continue to evolve and prove itself to remain relevant in promoting and protecting children's rights. I have great confidence in that.'

Former co-founder Jaap Doek

Emeritus professor of family and juvenile law at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, Jaap Doek was involved in the founding of Defence for Children International in 1979 and in the founding of Defence for Children Nederland in 1984. He was a member and chairman of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (1999-2007) and has extensive expertise in the field of children's rights, both nationally and internationally. He played an active role in the drafting of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. An annual Thesis Prize is named after him: the 'Jaap Doek Children's Rights Thesis Prize'. This prize is awarded to the student who has written the best master's thesis in the Netherlands or Belgium in the field of children's rights. The prize was established by Defence for Children Nederland and the Department of Juvenile Law at Leiden University in honour of his special achievements in the field of children's rights, both in the Netherlands and worldwide.

'Defence for Children International played an important role at international level in the creation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and this was one of the first treaties in which NGOs themselves had a significant input. At the same time, I was closely involved in the establishment of Defence for Children Netherlands. When Defence for Children was established, there was specific attention for the rights of vulnerable children in the Netherlands, such as children in detention and children in institutions. We wanted to improve the legal position of these children and the safeguarding of their rights within Dutch society. We also advocated for juvenile criminal law. For example, we played a role in the development of alternatives to deprivation of liberty within juvenile criminal law, such as the establishment of HALT. And Defence for Children has campaigned for the rights of migrant and asylum-seeking children, focusing on issues such as discrimination, residence permits for parents and preventing deportations. These efforts demonstrate the organisation's broad involvement in various aspects of children's rights and the pursuit of a fairer society for all children.'

The Future of Children's Rights

'It remains important that there is good cooperation between the various NGOs in the field of children's rights. Defence for Children Netherlands has developed into an organisation with broad expertise in the field of children's rights, an established name with a strong position in the field. I believe in the relevance and resilience of Defence for Children but see the need for continuous adaptation and cooperation to continue to fulfil its mission!'

Youth Ambassador Ruzanna Kalashyan

Ruzanna Kalayshyan is a youth ambassador for Defence for Children. She now wants to offer the support she received from the organisation during her asylum procedure to others. It takes courage to step forward as a young person.

Ruzanna: 'I have been given the opportunity to study, prove myself and build a future. That is my motivation to do this. Children are and will remain the future of the world, we must continue to invest in them by laying the foundation for a better society. My work for Defence for Children means that as youth ambassadors we have all specialised in a specific subject. My specialisation is mental health and I can help other young people with that. As youth ambassadors we each have our own story and our own network. Each of us contributes as a building block in the construction of better children's rights. If necessary, we have a conversation together or individually with a minister, state secretary, other advocates or organisations to see what we can do to continuously improve children's rights.'

What message do you have for Defence for Children Netherlands 40 years?

'Never settle for what is already there, it can always be better! The world changes and people change. What is good enough now, will not be good enough in a year. Think of bullying for example; now there is cyberbullying. I would like to remain an ambassador for Defence for Children Netherlands and stay involved in their work for children's rights. If I can do something, I will gladly do it.'

For a good understanding of the work and impact of Defence for Children Netherlands, insight into the meaning of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is important. This Convention not only guides the work of Defence for Children, but also forms the basis of the efforts of countless organisations, groups, institutions and individuals around the world to protect and realise the rights of children.

After years of negotiations, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as the CRC is officially called, was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 20 November 1989. The Convention on the Rights of the Child guarantees every child the right to care, protection and participation. It is the only international treaty that combines civil rights and socio-economic rights. The CRC also includes specific provisions for children who need extra care or protection, such as disabled children or children who come into conflict with the law. The CRC has been ratified by all countries in the world, with the exception of the . Since 2000, additional protocols (so-called Optional Protocols) have also been in force on the rights of children involved in armed conflict, on (sexual) exploitation of children and the possibility of submitting a complaint about a violation of children's rights to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.