Dutch parliament postpones funding decision for Safe Home

◆1 source

The Dutch House of Representatives considers it too early to provide the €70 million requested by the Safe Home board. VVD, D66, Volt and the Group Markuszower want the government first to examine how problems at the national network arose and what should be done to address them. Safe Home handles advice and reports concerning domestic violence, child abuse, and the prevention of genital mutilation and femicide.

Waiting lists have reportedly worsened over the past year. People wait an average of two months after making a report, and in some cases more than six months, although action is legally required within five days. Safe Home has attributed the pressure partly to staff shortages and waiting lists in youth care and is seeking funding to hire additional employees. Several MPs said any additional structural funding should support a lasting solution rather than temporarily cover the problem.

More on this story

Politics

D66 proposal to hear children sooner in suspected abuse cases

3 sources

D66 MPs Marijke Synhaeve and Hanneke van der Werf published an initiative proposal intended to ensure that children showing serious signs of abuse are heard quickly, where necessary without their parents' consent when parents may be involved in the abuse. The proposal was put online for organisations to respond before it is submitted to the House of Representatives, possibly in an amended form. Under the proposed child-first law, a specialised multidisciplinary team would interview the child within 48 hours and draw up a plan for protection, assistance and, if needed, criminal action. The approach, based on the Barnahus model, would apply to children both inside and outside child protection services and would involve expertise from healthcare, youth care, security and justice.