NETHERLANDS
Radio Netherlands
Children in foster families and youth care facilities are three to four times more often the victims of child sex abuse compared to children living with their parents.
Children with a mild mental retardation living in group homes are even ten times more often the victims of sexual abuse. National daily de Volkskrant writes that a group of scientists from the University of Leiden conclude that abuse among children in youth care was ‘shockingly common.” The study, conducted on behalf of the Samson Commission, covers the period from 2008 to 2010.
The scientists write that sexual abuse is still a major taboo. Half of the abuse victims were too afraid to name their abuser, even when the questionnaire was completely anonymous. Those who did answer named institutional workers as their abusers, but also foster parents and fellow group members.
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