Defence for Children International Netherlands – ECPAT Netherlands (Defence for Children) promotes children’s rights in the Netherlands and abroad on the basis of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Defence for Children was founded in 1989, and is part of two international networks: Defence for Children International (DCI) and ECPAT International (ECPAT). DCI consists of 38 national sections and affiliated members. ECPAT is a network of 122 organisations in 104 countries that campaigns against the sexual exploitation of children worldwide. In the Netherlands, Defence for Children and ECPAT form one organisation.
It is our mission to monitor and promote compliance with children’s rights in the Netherlands and abroad. We do this in collaboration with our partners and where possible with children. Defence for Children focuses on the best interests of the child and puts the rights of children as laid down in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child first. We do this to strive for a world in which the rights of children are respected and every child can develop optimally in a safe and promising environment.
In the Netherlands and abroad, we focus on the most vulnerable children. These are often children who are victims of violence or are most at risk of it. By violence we mean not only war violence and child abuse, but also sexual exploitation. We are committed to children who come into contact with the justice system, children in detention, children who have to deal with youth care or children who grow up in poverty. Defence for Children also defends the rights of children of asylum seekers, unaccompanied minor aliens and children without a residence permit. There is also special attention for children with a disability.
We focus on 5 thematic areas: juvenile criminal law, sexual exploitation, inclusive education, family and migration. In addition, child and youth participation, gender equality & inclusion, as well as access to justice, protection against violence and the consequences of trauma are a common thread through our work. Within the themes of juvenile criminal law and family, we focus, for example, on strengthening the legal position of children in institutions and increasing the quality of care and services in these institutions in accordance with children’s rights standards.
If you’d like to learn more about Defence for Children you can click here: defenceforchildren.nl
