Children conceived through incestuous relationships may be eligible for compensation in the Netherlands, provided they can show that they suffered serious psychological harm, according to the Dutch government. The announcement follows a ruling by the Council of State, the country’s highest administrative court, in a case brought by a man whose mother was abused by his grandfather while she was a minor.
The court said a child’s right to mental health is directly violated by violent sexual abuse involving incest, even before the child is born. It added that the fact that the resulting psychological harm may only become apparent after birth does not break the link between the crime and the damage.
Several Dutch media outlets reported that the Dutch Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund must reconsider the man’s application within 12 weeks.
Sources: Der Spiegel.