Wait, isn’t the Netherlands one of the happiest countries in the world? Well… not so much, as the country dropped a whole SIXTEEN places this year in the children’s rights ranking.
For the first time in a long time, the Netherlands lost out on its usual top 10 position and now ranks a shocking 20th place in the KidsRights Index, reports NU.nl.
A loss for Dutch children
The Dutch are known to give their kids lots of freedom, such as letting them bike to school alone from the time they’re 10 years old and letting them have a job from the age of 13.
However, it looks like Dutch kids are now left to their own devices a little too frequently, as the Netherlands has taken a sharp drop from fourth place in the children’s rights rankings to 20th.
The Netherlands is falling hard in the ranking of children's performs below average in terms of compliance with children's rights. the KidsRights Index report for 2023. Our country has dropped no less than sixteen places in the global ranking and has ended up in 20th position.
— Vader vecht tegen handboeien bij kinderen!!! (@VaderMenno) June 26, 2023
The Dutch government has been criticised for allocating a very low percentage of the government budget to helping children’s well-being. The result? Children in need of youth care and protection see themselves without help at the very end of long waiting lists.
Vulnerable children, especially those living in poverty or in asylum seeker centres, especially bear the brunt of this without the necessary care or protection needed for many of them.
READ MORE | 5 reasons why Dutch kids are happier than American kids
In fact, according to KidsRights chairman Marc Dullaert, the Netherlands is not meeting standards “across the board,” writes NU.nl. Dullaert goes on to say: “The Netherlands is one of the richest countries in the world, but underperforms when it comes to children’s rights.”
Worldwide trends in children’s rights
The KidsRights Index measures to what extent 193 countries are committed to respecting children’s rights, based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The ranking is based on five points:
- Right to Life
- Right to Health
- Right to Education
- Right to Protection
- Enabling Environment for Child Rights
Sweden and Finland are in the lead, with long-term visions and knowledge of children’s needs in their respective countries.
READ MORE | 9 things to expect as an expat mother in the Netherlands
Further down the list, however, it’s not such a pretty picture. Researchers expect one in four children worldwide will live below the poverty line this year.
There seem to be countless factors putting children at risk all over the world, from increased costs of living, wars in Ukraine and Sudan, risk of environmental disasters, and low vaccination rates.
Are you surprised by the Netherlands’ ranking for children’s rights? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!