Children’s rights in theory and practice
ChildRightsFocus is the website of dr. Philip E. Veerman, children’s rights expert. On this website you will find articles and publications by Dr. Philip E. Veerman about children’s rights and announcements of symposia and conferences in the field of (international) children’s rights.
Minister for children! Sign the petition
We organize our society in such a way that a quarter of a million children live in poverty, that children in psychological distress, children who are suicidal are on waiting lists, that a large number of children are neglected, maltreated and abused, that there are...
Minister for Children – the next step with a plea
As in Ireland, we aim to appoint a Minister for Children in the Netherlands as well. Do you endorse this plea? Then share it via a message on LinkedIn and in your network. Then it has a "snowball effect". Do you want to join this movement? Let us know by commenting on...
‘How do you narrow the gap between young people and politicians?’
The debate in the House of Representatives in the night of Thursday April 1 is a great opportunity to get young people more interested in politics, says child law expert Philip Veerman in his opinion piece Den Haag Centraal. New results of an annual survey of the...
Include lowering of the voting age in the coalition agreement
By Philip Veerman in FD March 28, 2021 - "Cautious proposals to slightly lower the voting age are invariably rejected," Mathijs Bouman writes in his column 'Prohibited to vote'. Giving young people a chance to vote is not an unworldly thought. Austria already lowered...
the problem of homeless adolescents and young adults
In an interview that I gave to the weekly 'Den Haag Centraal' about the problem of homeless adolescents and young adults, I expressed the hope that the new mayor of the Hague, Jan van Zanen, would do something about it. Then the mayor called and asked if he could...
‘We are more concerned about animals than about children’
Young homeless people: no treatment place, no housing Marijke Landeweer speaks with Dr. Philip Veerman about this subject in Den Haag Centraal. The transition from the state and the province to the municipality caused major problems for youth care: long waiting lists,...
“Should education become more inclusive?”
On November 16 the Dutch Parliament debates on the question if education should become more inclusive. According to Philip Veerman bringing regular and special education closer to each other is a good idea, but if inclusive education means doing away with special...
“Clinic for Confused People (OVP) is the safety valve of mental health care “
For five years Parnassia Mental Health Care in the Hague has 'the clinic for people with Confused Behavior' (In dutch: OVP). Last year 1,552 people were brought there. Gz psychologist Philip Veerman reflects on this provision. The OVP has found shelter in The Hague...
Foto: Pauline van de Stadt
Philip Edmond Veerman (Amsterdam, 28 juni 1948) is an expert in children’s rights, health-psychology and (special) education. He initiated several new child welfare organisations in the Netherlands and developed international children’s rights initiatives. For his 40 years of efforts to promote children’s rights he was given a Royal distinction, when in 2015 he became Officer in the Order of Orange-Nassau. Read more >
Presenting in Toronto at the International Conference on the Prevention of Youth Homelessness
What is the Dutch governent doing against child labour by the Chinese dancecompany Shun Yun? See (in Dutch): Chinees dansgezelschap verdient miljoenen met kinderarbeid in Nederland | BNR Nieuwsradio bnr.nl/nieuws/economie/10565…
Health insurance for children remains a big challenge in the USA for 2025. See: It doesn't make sense': Why millions of children have lost their health insurance nbcnews.com/health/health-ca…
Again children in schools in the USA are not safe!! See NBC:Live updates: 3 dead in shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin nbcnews.com/news/us-news/liv…
A setback for children’s rights. See NBC news: Iraq could allow marriage for girls as young as 9. A survivor says it would fuel rape and child abuse. nbcnews.com/news/world/iraq-…
De Clara Meijer Wichmann Penning: naar Jason Bhugwandass. Proficiat Jason!!!
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu came to his senses: freedom of expression is not treason! See the BBC news item: bbc.com/news/articles/cr4lzq…
Impact of climate on children? Here is one.Schools close in Lahore as pollution hits record level. See this BBC newsitem. bbc.com/news/articles/c5ymg6…
I offer my condoleances to the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo on the passing of Giovanola, who I had the pleasure to meet once in Buenos Aires. Thanks to her and the Grandmothers ‘the right to identity’ is in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child batimes.com.ar/news/argentin…
People can regress and probably States too. This NT’s regression is regrettable and against the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. See: Australia's Northern Territory resumes jailing 10-year-olds - BBC News bbc.com/news/articles/cpqz8g…
This is the 45th schoolshooting this year In the USA!! See: Georgia school shooting live updates: Suspect was a new student at the school and taken into custody within minutes nbcnews.com/news/us-news/liv…
They can make a diffetence. See: 8 million teens are eligible to vote. These high school students want to make sure more do. nbcnews.com/politics/2024-el…
Opinie: Laat kinderen en jongeren zoveel mogelijk meepraten als volwaardige burgers | de Volkskrant archive.ph/2024.07.31-132756…
It seemed a step forward for children but is it? See: Why a landmark kids online safety bill that just passed the Senate is still deeply divisive nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/w…
Sad about tragic findings innthe US. See: Over 970 Native American children died at federal boarding schools | Reuters reuters.com/world/us/over-97…
Now also Druze children. When will this madness end? See: White coffins of children killed in Hezbollah rocket attack carried through streets of Majdal Shams
timesofisrael.com/liveblog_e…
How sad that so many young people in care were abused in New Zeeland. Good that it was brought to the open. See: New Zealand landmark report finds 200,000 suffered abuse in care bbc.com/news/articles/c4ng6j…
Incredible that PM Netanyahu blocked starting a hospital for children in Gaza!!! Does he have enemies under 7 years old? See: PM vetoes Gallant's field hospital for Gaza kids; defense officials: He's playing politics
timesofisrael.com/pm-vetoes-…
To make a children’s hospital a taget how terrible for humanity. See: Russia strikes Kyiv children’s hospital in huge missile attack – POLITICO politico.eu/article/russians…
In memoriam Michael Freeman whose funeral I attended in London this afternoon. A giant in the field of children’s rights.
