The Dutch Parliament has passed a measure that will prevent the children of those who suffered persecution during World War II from seeking monthly payments from the government.
The measure, which was passed last week, was enacted at the urging of Culture and Welfare Minister Hedy D’Ancona, who stressed the need to cut back on government expenditures.
Under the terms of the Law for Payments to Victims of Persecution, Jews who suffered under the Nazis in Holland and people who suffered at the hands of the Japanese in the Dutch East Indies were eligible for the government payments.
The law was originally intended to help first-generation victims only. But in recent years, some children of the victims successfully claimed payments on the grounds that their physical or mental illnesses had been caused by the traumatic experiences of their parents.
Under the new legislation, second-generation claimants already receiving government assistance will continue to receive the monthly payments, but no new claims will be allowed.
The government left open the possibility, however, that second-generation victims will be able to receive psychiatric or social-service assistance at the government’s expense.
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