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6/2 Zuideramstel opens new office on Sabbath

5/2 The truth about integration

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31/1 Wooden rowing boats to disappear from Amstel

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20/1 Cleaners welcome new Schiphol director

18/1 Palestine at the Jewish Historical Museum

18/1 What is the right size for a district?

17/1 PvdA Oost against fewer districts

16/1 Committee: 7 districts by 2010

15/1 Soldiers may attend Afghanistan debate after all

15/1 Bait bike leads to arrest

14/1 Youth for Christ to republish vacancies

13/1 Paintings of the Zuidas

13/1 New Youth for Christ contoversy

11/1 Social cohesion initiative raises eyebrows

10/1 Fewer districts in 2010

10/1 Zuidas: People feel that we are losers

9/1 Fun on the ice - but not for all

9/1 Supermarket coupon fraud thwarted

9/1 I Amsterdam must remain exclusive

8/1 Use term Apartheid in every discussion

8/1 No city kiosk in Amsterdam yet

7/1 Snow

7/1 Fatima Elatik to run Zeeburg

7/1 Municipal managers to return to shop floor

4/1 Police: take photo of strange people

3/1 Gaza protest criticises politicians

1/1 Thousands to protest against attacks on Gaza

1/1 Mustapha Laboui leaves district council

 

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Children in jail

8 May 2006 – City council member Petra Hoogerwerf (D66) has asked questions about the detention of children in the Tafelberg facility in Amsterdam Zuidoost. Last year, an inspection report concluded that this institution is not suitable for children.

Hoogerwerf: “As a matter of principle, children should not be detained in surroundings that can be described as a prison. They cannot move freely, sometimes for as long as several months. Detaining children in such a way runs contrary to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which the Netherlands have signed as well. Therefore, we want to know what the municipal government thinks of this and what it is going to do about it”.

In October last year, a government inspection agency reported on the detention of minors in the Tafelberg. The report did not reveal any major abuses. The inspection agency did however conclude that institutions such as the Tafelberg are unsuitable for children. Especially older minors would be harmed.

The staff treats the families in a quiet and respectful manner. Toys and books are available, and during the day, children can play with each other. At night, they stay in cells of ten square metres, of which two can be joined to accomodate a family.

In a number of respects, facilities do not meet the requirements of international standards, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, according to the inspection agency.

Human rights and refugee organisations in the Netherlands are campaigning against the detention of minors. See also a similar campaign in the UK.

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