The Barnahus Model in the Netherlands
Pro Publico connected Defence for Children – ECPAT Netherlands with the international law firm De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, enabling expert pro bono research to advance the implementation of the Barnahus model in the Netherlands.
A Child-Centred Approach to Justice
Across Europe, the Barnahus – literally “Children’s House” – represents a transformative model for how child victims of violence and sexual abuse are treated.
Instead of forcing children to navigate multiple institutions, Barnahus brings together police, prosecutors, healthcare professionals and social workers under one roof. The child tells their story only once, to a trained specialist, ensuring a coordinated and trauma-sensitive response.
This integrated model has been implemented in more than twenty European countries, but the Netherlands has yet to establish a national Barnahus network. Defence for Children – ECPAT Netherlands has long advocated for its adoption, seeing it as a critical step to ensure that child victims receive justice and care without re-traumatisation.
Defence for Children – ECPAT Netherlands: Advocating for Child Rights
Defence for Children – ECPAT Netherlands is a leading organisation promoting children’s rights in the Netherlands and abroad. Its mission spans juvenile justice, protection against sexual exploitation, inclusive education, family and alternative care, and migration.
At the heart of their work lies the principle of child participation and empowerment: ensuring that every child’s voice is heard, respected, and protected.
For years, the organisation has campaigned for a nationwide network of Barnahus centres. Yet, despite political and social support, significant challenges persist – including the decentralised youth care system and the division of responsibilities between national and municipal levels. To overcome these barriers, they needed a comparative legal analysis: how did other countries with similar governance structures successfully implement the Barnahus model?
A Strategic Pro Bono Opportunity
Recognising the importance of this work, we facilitated a collaboration between Defence for Children – ECPAT Netherlands and the renowned law firm De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek.
The firm assembled a dedicated team to take on the project, comprising counsel Heather Giannandrea and associates Jeroen de Boer, Yana Tikhonenkova, and Natasha Singh.
“The team at De Brauw approached this case with the same rigour and commitment they bring to their international clients,” said Francesco Zatelli, Director of Pro Publico. “Their comparative legal expertise was crucial to advancing such a complex and sensitive initiative.”
In-Depth Comparative Research and Policy Insights
De Brauw’s lawyers developed a comprehensive comparative memo analysing how Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Germany implemented the Barnahus model.
The document examined:
- National legal and policy frameworks;
- Organisational structures and interagency coordination;
- Funding mechanisms; and
- Lessons learned and best practices applicable to the Dutch context.
This comparative analysis now serves as a strategic tool for Defence for Children’s advocacy and dialogue with policymakers.
“Defence for Children the Netherlands experienced the collaboration with De Brauw as highly effective and collegial and were consistently impressed by the exceptional legal expertise of its professionals” shared Renée Roodhuizen of Defence for Children. “The insights and analyses produced through this work will be actively used to further deepen and expand our advocacy efforts and to achieve tangible results.”
A Meaningful Impact for All Involved
For De Brauw’s team, the collaboration was equally rewarding.
“We are honoured to have had the opportunity to support Defence for Children in their work to advance the Barnahus model.” noted Yana Tikhonenkova. “It was fulfilling to contribute to an initiative that can make a lasting difference to the way child victims in the Netherlands are protected and supported.”
The project demonstrates the power of pro bono collaboration in driving systemic change – turning comparative legal research into actionable policy reform.
Pro Publico’s Role in Making It Possible
As the matchmaker, Pro Publico identified the alignment between Defence for Children’s policy objectives and De Brauw’s expertise in complex comparative and regulatory analysis. This collaboration illustrates the value of bridging civil society and the legal profession for the public good.
“Without Pro Publico’s matchmaking, this project would have been difficult to initiate,” said Renée. “They made sure our needs were clearly understood and connected us with a team perfectly suited to help.”
You can read more about the Barnahus model at the Barnahus Network and explore the broader work of Defence for Children – ECPAT Netherlands.
If your organisation could benefit from pro bono legal or public affairs support, or if your firm wishes to contribute its expertise, contact us to submit a pro bono request.
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Thanks to @HeatherGiannandrea, @JeroenDeBoer, @YanaTikhonenkova, @NatashaSingh, @DeBrauw (De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek) @CelineVerheijen @ReneeRoodhuizen, @DefenceForChildrenECPATNetherlands, @FrancescoZatelli, @ProPublico
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