Statement delivered at the UPR adoption of the Netherlands
On March 28 2023, DCI delivered a joint statement at the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council on behalf of the Dutch NGO Coalition for Children’s Rights. The key members of the Coalition are Defence for Children the Netherlands, Kinderpostzegels, the National Youth Council, Save the Children Netherlands and Terre des Hommes Netherlands, in cooperation with UNICEF the Netherlands. The statement presented the position of the NGO Coalition regarding the government of the Netherland’s views on the conclusion and/or recommendations of the UPR.
Within the topic of asylum-seeking children only two out of six recommendations were supported. In the coalition’s agreement, the government states it will consider the best interest of the child more thoroughly in the asylum procedure. We welcome this development but are yet to see its definite implementation in law, policy and practise. Additionally, recent reports by various inspectorates have expressed an acute concern with regard to access to education, healthcare and overall (psychological) wellbeing of children who remain in the asylum reception facilities.
Read the full joint statement here.
