World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Dutch youths were abused for years at care home in Spain
Dutch young people with behavioural problems were abused at Huize Soria, a family-style care home in Spain.
Sixteen former residents described punishments including being denied food, isolated and made to stand or sit for long periods.
The home used restrictions on movement that are prohibited in care settings abroad, and it also limited contact with families and monitored young people with cameras.
Dutch care providers and child-protection organisations knew about the methods but continued placing young people there; one report says they received warning signs from 2016.
The home was part of the Dutch care organisation Driestroom for years and received tens of millions of euros in Dutch public care funding over about 20 years.
A child-law expert said the accounts showed features of child torture and that difficult behaviour does not remove a young person's right to protection.
The allegations raise questions about oversight of organisations that place vulnerable young people in care abroad.
Dutch youths with behavioural problems were subjected to physical and emotional abuse for years at Huize Soria, a care home in Spain.
Sixteen former residents told Nieuwsuur about practices including food deprivation, isolation and punishment involving prolonged standing or sitting.
Dutch youth-care providers and child-protection organisations knew about the home’s methods but continued placing young people there.
The home received tens of millions of euros in Dutch care funding over a period of 20 years, according to the investigation.
Experts said the reported practices had characteristics of child torture and included measures that are prohibited in youth care outside designated facilities in the Netherlands.
- Who
- Dutch youths with behavioural problems were abused at the home. A Dutch couple ran it.
- What
- Former residents described physical and emotional abuse and severe restrictions on their freedom.
- When
- The abuse took place over several years; organisations received reports of abuse from 2016.
- Where
- Huize Soria, a care home in Spain.
- Why
- The youths were placed there through youth-care services or juvenile probation, often after a history in other foster homes and institutions. The sources do not state why the couple used the reported punishments.
Driestroom
Critics including child-law expert Bart Tromp
Balance of care
Driestroom
Driestroom said it was a challenge to find a careful balance between freedom, protection, treatment and safety within legal limits, and noted that the youths had complex needs.
Critics including child-law expert Bart Tromp
Tromp said complex needs do not justify prohibited treatment methods.
Youth-care providers and child-protection organisations began receiving reports of abuse, according to NU.nl.
Nieuwsuur’s investigation reported former residents’ accounts of abuse at Huize Soria.
- Former residents interviewed
- 16
- Home
- Huize Soria, Spain
- Capacity
- About 10 young people
- Funding
- Tens of millions of euros in Dutch care funding over 20 years
- Reports of abuse
- Organisations received signals from 2016
4 sources
What people are saying
If you do not join in, you become one of the scapegoats. That must have been very traumatising for all the children.
You cannot systematically film all young people under the guise of child protection, or by adding the word 'educational'.
Education is a very fundamental right.
It is a challenge to find a careful balance within the legal framework between freedom, protection, treatment and safety.