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Implementation
had observed. Of the 679 respondents who did have (something of) an idea has to what they could
do, only 20% (N≈136) cited the AMK.
The identification of children who have been victims by professionals in close proximity to victims 150
A variety of means exist to assist professionals in recognising indicators of victimisation, and the Flags
system is one example of these. The list of sexual behaviours enables professionals (and parents) to
identify sexual behaviour exhibited by a minor as healthy or in fact inappropriate. 151 In addition, groups
of professionals who may be able to spot indicators of child abuse, including sexual abuse of children,
often work with a reporting code 152 or a protocol derived from such guidelines. 153 , 154 <strong>Child</strong> Abuse Counselling
and Reporting Centres are also listed as the most important authorities to contact once indicators
of abuse have been identified. It is claimed that research has shown that (health/social) care workers
and teachers who work with a reporting code are three times as likely to intervene as colleagues who do
not have such a code available. 155 , 156 It is expected that the Dutch Domestic Violence and <strong>Child</strong> Abuse
Reporting Code (Compulsory Use) Act [Wet verplichte meldcode huiselijk geweld en kindermishandeling] will enter
into force shortly.
150 In this context see Article 5 of the Lanzarote Convention. This Article requires states to take the following
action: “1. Each Party shall take the necessary legislative or other measures to encourage awareness of the
protection and rights of children among persons who have regular contacts with children in the education, health, social
protection, judicial and law-enforcement sectors and in areas relating to sport, culture and leisure activities” and “Each
Party shall take the necessary legislative or other measures to ensure that the persons referred to in paragraph 1 have an
adequate knowledge of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children, of the means to identify them and of the possibility
mentioned in Article 12, paragraph 1.” The Explanatory Memorandum states with regard to this Article
that promoting expertise on the part of professionals and volunteers who work with children forms a
specific area of attention as part of the RAAK strategy (within the scope of Action Plan to tackle <strong>Child</strong>
Abuse) (Parliamentary Papers II, 2008/09, 31 808, no.3, p.6). For further information regarding the RAAK
strategy, see §2.5.2.
151 Movisie, 2011.
152 For several examples, see publications by the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport, 2009;
KNMG, 2008.
153 For example: the Schools and Safety House [Centrum School en Veiligheid] refers to the <strong>Child</strong> Abuse Protocol
for all professionals who work with children up to 19 years of age and/or their parents (Youth
Care Agency Conurbation of Amsterdam, Amsterdam <strong>Child</strong> Abuse Counselling and Reporting Centre,
Noord-Holland Youth Care Agency, Noord-Holland <strong>Child</strong> Abuse Counselling and Reporting Centre,
2010).
154 Partly as a result of the RAAK programme and the RAK strategy. For further information regarding these
strategies, see §2.5.2.
155 Unicef & Defence for <strong>Child</strong>ren, 2011, p.23.
156 One of the provisional conclusions of the Samson Committee is that when children reported what had
happened to them (sexual abuse), no action was taken further to the indications given by the child, in
two thirds of the cases. It is claimed that this situation has not actually improved over the years. This
observation will be examined in greater detail in academic sub-studies, which will explicitly study
how government authorities have responded to signs of sexual abuse (see the fourth public report
of the Samson Committee, available at: www.onderzoek-seksueel-kindermisbruik.nl/documenten/
openbareberichten/ (viewed 8 September 2011).
137