Social Affairs
Ahmed Aboutaleb, president of Youth Care Netherlands for a year, wants less youth care. 'Sometimes a system is just done'
Ahmed Aboutaleb, former mayor of Rotterdam and current president of Jeugdzorg Nederland, advocates for reduced youth care, increased prevention, and greater acceptance of risk. Following Minister Mirjam Sterk's apology for suffering in closed youth care, Aboutaleb emphasized the need for systemic change and scientific grounding in care practices. He supports closing forced confinement facilities, currently housing over 460 children, in favor of small residential forms, though he warns against inadequate temporary solutions like holiday park accommodations. Aboutaleb calls for regular self-assessments and external audits to address violence and misconduct within institutions, aiming to rebuild trust among victims and professionals alike.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's