Dozens of demonstrators take action for child pardon in The Hague

Dozens of people protested at the Koekamp in The Hague for a new children's pardon and better asylum regulation. Several people who were threatened with deportation from the Netherlands also participated in the protest. Many national media reported on the protest, initially started by 79-year-old Eduard Disch, who spent 30 days on a hunger strike in front of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) building in The Hague.

Several protesters carried signs with texts such as 'long waited, give us a future, 'we want a normal life', and 'give children a future.' Two people also carried a Dutch flag with the text 'pardon?!'. Several times, 'children's pardon, now!' was shouted.

A 12-year-old boy from Libya came to the Netherlands seven years ago. "I have my friends, I feel safe here, and I have dreams for the future," he told the audience. "That is why I want to appeal to the government on behalf of my family and all other children who live insecurely: give us children who do not have a safe country of origin the chance of a safe and stable home in the Netherlands. We have the right to safety and a future."

Several children said they had been living in asylum centers for years and that they were experiencing the negative consequences. For example, there was a boy who said he had changed asylum centers eleven times. "It is inhumane that we are being taken from one asylum center to another like potato sacks," said a 17-year-old girl. "That is why we are asking the Dutch government: give us the opportunity to be normal citizens."

Among the speakers was Eduard Disch, who ended his hunger strike at the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) building on Saturday morning. He called for political action. "We cannot do this to children in this civilized country by making them the victims and some the victims of years of procedures."

Disch was moved by a speech by a boy in the asylum center in Katwijk and asked for his text. "I keep it close to my heart so that I stay awake," he said.

Last week, Disch also met with the Amsterdam boy Mikael (11). He and his Armenian mother must leave the country, but it is unknown when. Asylum Minister Faber confirmed last week that there is nothing she can do for Mikael and said that the responsibility lies with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND). Both the children's rights organization Defence for Children and the Mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, spoke of a harsh sentence and pleaded for leniency.