Manifesto | Children's rights in prevention, support and care

The Inspiration Behind This Manifesto

The inspiration for this manifesto arose from a meeting organized by the Aletta Jacobs School of Public Health and the Johannes Wier Foundation for Health Care and Human Rights on May 26th last year. In Groningen, a diverse group gathered to discuss youth care from a human rights perspective. This discussion, focused on safeguarding the child's right to care from the government and providing tools for youth care professionals, led to the Manifesto on Children's Rights in Prevention, Support, and Care.

What Is the Focus of This Manifesto?

The manifesto poses the question: What does our world look like if we always prioritize the best interests of the child? The answer is clear: a society that is good for children is good for everyone. However, the 2022 evaluation by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) shows that the Netherlands is still falling short in this regard. The CRC highlights that the best interests of children are not sufficiently prioritized in the Netherlands, and the voices of children are not adequately heard.

The Four Fundamental Rights for the Child

From the perspective of the right to health, the manifesto focuses on four essential rights:

1. The best interests of the child must always come first in all measures, policies, and legislation concerning children.

2. The right of the child to be heard, regardless of age. Children have a voice that must be listened to.

3. The right to life, survival, and development, with the government responsible for creating a safe environment that supports the overall development of children.

4. The principle of non-discrimination, ensuring that every child is protected from unlawful discrimination and has access to appropriate and high-quality care.

Call to Action

The manifesto calls on the national government to make the Children's Ombudsman’s Action Plans mandatory for all policy developments and legislation, both locally and nationally, even if they do not seem to directly affect the interests of children at first glance. Additionally, governments, policymakers, professionals, and researchers are urged to take action to safeguard children's rights, each from their own expertise and responsibilities. Only by working together can we realize the right to health for children, which ultimately benefits everyone.