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<strong>Child</strong> PornograPhy First report oF the Dutch NatioNal rapporteur
media’ are developing extremely rapidly.” In response to the question ‘what is action is taken 217 by AMK staff
in the event of a report involving child abuse material’, most AMKs briefly described the action protocol
for reports of sexual abuse. This seems to indicate that the existence of images of the sexual abuse of a
child is usually not recognised as a specific request for help. One AMK therefore indicated that no policy
was in place that explicitly related to child pornography. Practically all AMKs stated that they contact
the police. Some expressly stated in this regard that they encourage the individual reporting the matter
to make a statement, and if this is not successful, they state that the AMK itself will file a report. Within
this context, one AMK cited the protocol 218 that Youth Care Agencies, the police and the Public Prosecution
Service have recently agreed upon, which is intended to result in more cases being reported to the
police by AMKs in the future. The protocol contains cooperative agreements that simplify the process of
sending reports to the police by the AMKs. A standard report form is now being used, and information
is regularly shared between police officers and care workers, which will benefit criminal investigations
and care provision. 219 In addition, many AMKs stated that arrangements are made for appropriate care if
necessary. However, not one single AMK stated in this regard that specific care provision is offered with
regard to sexual abuse involving the production of images. One AMK noted the following: “We assess
whether assistance is required, but it is often necessary to leave matters as they are for the purpose of the police investigation,
and to avoid the interference of care provision in the reporting stage.” Hopefully, improvements in how information
is shared between the police and the care authorities will ensure that these types of situations will arise
less frequently in the future (see the aforementioned protocol).
The following aspects were also cited by a number of AMKs:
– Ensuring safety/providing protection for victims (‘Signs of Safety’)
– The joint handling of a report of sexual abuse
– Seeking (compulsory) treatment for the perpetrator
– Conducting an investigation of suspected sexual abuse 220
“An investigation of sexual abuse always involves questioning parents regarding access to pornography on the Internet/
TV/in printed form, the examination of children (or sending them for examination) for indicators or verbal expressions
of sexually inappropriate behaviour.”
– Collaboration with several cooperating partners in the event of more than one victim being involved
“In cases involving multiple victims, we will also seek collaboration with the municipality in sexual abuse scenarios and
in scenarios in which the Municipal Health Service is involved.
Concluding remarks
– <strong>Child</strong> pornography as an additional dimension in victimisation as a result of sexual abuse is not yet
being sufficiently acknowledged within AMKs. It is not standard practice for AMK staff members
to ask whether such material could be involved. It is quite conceivable that child abuse material
217 Both with regard to care provision and the police.
218 The protocol ‘Reports of child abuse sent by Youth Care Agencies to the Police and the Public Prosecution
Service’, signed on 12 April 2011.
219 Integrale aanpak kindermishandeling jeugdzorg, politie en OM [Youth care sector, police and Public Prosecution
Service adopt an integrated approach towards tackling child abuse], ANP Perssupport, 12 April 2011,
available at: new.perssupport.nl/apssite/persberichten/full/2011/04/12/Integrale+aanpak+kindermis
handeling+jeugdzorg+politie+en+OM (viewed 8 September 2011).
220 For that matter, every AMK investigates sexual abuse if such a case has been reported.