A government led commission that investigated levels of child abuse at Dutch youth care institutions has heavily censored the results of that research.
The academic researchers from the universities of Groningen and Leiden have now gone and posted the full, uncensored report online.
It can be downloaded here (Dutch language):
http://media.leidenuniv.nl/legacy/prevalentie-seksueel-misbruik-in-de-nederlandse-jeugdzorg.pdf
According to the researchers the commission has removed:
1. Conclusions and summaries;
2. Recommendations;
3. Two chapters containing criticism of senior management at Youth Care Netherlands. Those executives successfully blocked and delayed the research activities;
4. A recommendation to have the relevant regulator, The Youth Care Inspection, be fully and totally independent;
5. The conclusion that the abuse in Youth Care Centers is of a ‘structural’ nature.
6. Information about the dangers of mixed gender groups at those centers. One researcher asked two general managers whether they’d put their own children in these groups and the answer was NO.
The commission has admitted to the censorship. Their explanation is that they did not want to slap relevant authorities in the face with the outcome of the research – and as such, incapacitate them – as they want those authorities to improve their procedures and policies.
The main conclusions of the report are:
1. The government and relevant authorities knew about the sexual abuse at these centers and did nothing to stop it;
2. When children end up in Youth Care Centers the chance of being sexually abused increases with a factor 2.5; Factor 3 if the child has a mental handicap.
3. The commission is aware of 800 incidents (identified over the past two years) and has handed 42 cases to the Dutch public prosecutor’s office;
4. Youth Centers themselves only identify 2% of the actual abuse that is going on.
Dutch language news articles:
http://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2012/10/09/felle-kritiek-op-rapport-samson-hardere-conclusies-over-misbruik-geschrapt/
http://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2012/10/08/overheid-ondernam-geen-actie-tegen-misbruik-in-tehuizen/
