NETHERLANDS
Radio Netherlands
Prime Minister Mark Rutte has been accused of giving victims of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic church false hope that older cases might still result in prosecution of the perpetrators. Many cases happened too long ago for them to qualify for prosecution now under Dutch law.
Prime Minister Rutte said on television that he personally believed immunity from prosecution under the Dutch statute of limitations ought not to apply to such cases and that the matter would be looked at again, also in relation to European legislation.
When Justice and Security Minister Ivo Opstelten announced earlier this week that nothing could be done in cases barred by the statute of limitations this led to disappointment among many victims because of Mr Rutte’s earlier comment, Christian Democrat MP Madeleine van Toorenburg told Dutch public broadcaster NOS.
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