Child Pornography - Home | National Rapporteur on Trafficking in ...

Implementation
Reference index of young people at risk (VIR)
Chapter 1a: <strong>National</strong> reference index [Landelijke verwijsindex] was added to the Dutch Youth Care Act
with effect from 1 August 2010. The reference index of young people at risk (VIR) is an electronic
system that brings together, in one place, reports of risk indicators received from care workers with
respect to young people of up to 23 years of age. 163 The use of the reference index is a contributing
factor in achieving more effective collaboration between care workers and municipalities. 164 The
VIR is a risk identification tool. There must, therefore, be indications that a genuine issue exists,
before professionals decide to file a report to the reference index. 165 The text of the Act is formulated
as follows: “An individual authorised to report issues may report a juvenile to the reference index without
the consent of the juvenile or his/her legal representative, and if necessary, may breach the duty to confidentiality
that applies by virtue of his/her position or profession, in the event that he/she reasonably suspects that as a
result of one or more of the risks 166 listed below, the healthy and safe development of the juvenile into adulthood
is actually under threat.” 167
At this point, we will look at some of the conclusions of Unicef and a number of independent committees
of inquiry with regard to the aforementioned identification of victims by professionals.
With regard to the identification of victims by professionals:
– “In order to improve awareness and identification amongst professionals, their training must systematically
devote attention to the ways in which child abuse can be identified.” 168
– The Samson Committee 169 concluded for now 170 that: “intensive training is required to enable care
workers to recognise the indicators of sexual abuse”. 171
– The Gunning Committee 172 stated the following: “The Committee concluded that staff of day nurseries
often fail to recognise the signs or do not take the appropriate action. The same is also true of parents and
others in the child’s network, and this also applies in equal measure to general practitioners and other care
authorities.” 173
163 See www.rijksoverheid.nl/nieuws/2010/07/09/verwijsindex-voor-risicojongeren.html (viewed 8 September
2011).
164 Wet Verwijsindex risicojongeren van kracht op 1 augustus 2010 [Reference Index (Young People at Risk) Act
enters into force on 1 August 2010], rijksoverheid.nl, 9 July 2010, available at: www.rijksoverheid.nl/
nieuws/2010/07/09/verwijsindex-voor-risicojongeren.html (viewed 8 September 2011).
165 A guide for professionals is available for this purpose, available at www.meldcriteria.nl (viewed 8 September
2011).
166 Such as child abuse, including sexual violence against the juvenile.
167 Article 2j of the Dutch Youth Care Act.
168 Unicef & Defence for <strong>Child</strong>ren, 2011, p.23.
169 The Samson Committee is currently investigating the sexual abuse of minors who have been placed
under the responsibility of the government in institutions or with foster families, for further information,
see www.onderzoek-seksueel-kindermisbruik.nl (viewed 8 September 2011).
170 The definitive findings of the investigation are expected to be published in mid-2012.
171 Misbruik jeugd slecht herkend [<strong>Child</strong> abuse is frequently left unrecognised], De Telegraaf, 20 June 2011.
172 The Gunning Committee conducted investigations into the Amsterdam sexual abuse case.
173 Gunning et al., 2011, p.137.
139