http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050913/ap_on_re_eu/netherlands_child_files Dutch to Open Electronic Files on Children Tue Sep 13, 6:36 PM ET
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - The Dutch government
plans to open an electronic file on every child at birth as a tool to spot and protect the troubled kids of the future.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2007, all citizens will be
tracked from cradle to grave in a single database — including health, education, family and police records — the
health ministry said Tuesday.
As a privacy safeguard, no single person or
agency will be able to access all contents of a file. But organizations can raise "red flags" in the dossier to caution other
agencies about problems, ministry spokesman Jan Brouwer said.
The intention is to protect troubled children, Brouwer said. Until now, schools and police
have been unable to communicate with each other about truancy records and criminality, which are often linked.
"Child protection services will say, 'Hey,
there's a warning flag from the police. There's another one from school. There's another one from the doctor," Brouwer said.
"Something must be going on and it's time to call the parents in for a meeting."
Every child will get a Citizens Service Number,
making it easier to keep track of children with problems even when their families move, said Secretary of Health Clemence
Ross.
"Safety, guidance, education and supervision
are incredibly important for the development of children," Ross said.
All Dutch births are currently registered with
local authorities.