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Summary: Analysis of the Netherlands' compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child in relation to the treatment of children being held in police custody.
Over the past few years Defence for Children has received alarming signals on the high number of minors being held in custody in police cells in the Netherlands, and on the way these minors are treated during their custody. Upon the notice of these signals Defence for Children decided to research the legal status of minor suspects in police cells. For this purpose a legal framework has been set up, based on the relevant articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC) and other UN-rules and regulations concerning juvenile justice. Subsequently, current laws, rules and regulations, policies and practices were judged against this legal framework. This report sets forth the findings of this research and includes recommendations in order to better the situation of minors being held in custody in police cells. The aim of this research is to assure the correct implementation of the UN CRC in the Netherlands and to promote and contribute to a more conscious and child friendly policy for minors who come into contact with the police. Based on this report Defence for Children concludes that the Netherlands have failed to comply with the articles of the UN CRC concerning the custody of minor suspects in police cells. Further Information: