03-02-2016 09:50

On social media raining endorsements to keep in the saddle Marc Dullaert as Children's Ombudsman. A petition has already been signed 23,000 times. "He is doing excellent, is very committed with children and achieved a lot." The House talks on Wednesday.

He has absolutely not see it coming, it was a complete surprise. Peter Dullaert does not have daily contact with Marc - "We're both too busy" - but he knows that his brother, the Children's Ombudsman, the non-renewal of his contract totally did not see coming. And that hurts him.

Social media almost exploded last week, on the day it was announced that refused to extend the National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen contract with Dullaert. It rained statements of support for Dullaert, which was put down as a man who as an activist defending the rights of children and do not let fob off.

Petition
Spontaneous Lenting Marieke began as mother a petition to keep Marc Dullaert. With great success: he has now signed more than 23,000 times. "Thank you for all the support. I am dazed "is currently the only reaction that gave the Children's Ombudsman via Twitter.

,, With that signal, I was very pleased, '' said the Berlin resident Lenting, who is currently visiting family in Nijmegen. She follows Dullaert as a mother and as a neighbor of one of the largest refugee camps in Berlin with great interest and finds that he has done excellently in recent years. ,, Dullaert is a very civilized and capable man. With so much knowledge and so committed to the rights of the child. And he has authority. He has manifested itself in many areas. For refugee children, education, you name it. I was really stunned when I learned that he had to leave. Just at this time, with major changes in eg the youth, it is so important that there is a wise person. ''

Grateful
Brother Peter knows that Marc Dullaert remains pretty quiet among the commotion. ,, But the decision it hurts him. Marc, my little brother, is in any case very grateful for all the support he receives now. I am also proud of him. '' Peter Dullaert knows his brother as a hard worker. ,, He is an idealist and businessman simultaneously. A handy boy. With a great sense of justice. Because as a director and shareholder at Ivo Niehe Productions worked and then ran his own media company, he knows very well how he must sell his message. Thus he achieved a lot. ''

According to Peter Dullaert Marc has a very big heart for children. ,, In the period he worked as a marketing manager at Foster Parents Plan, he often visited in Africa. He was given the poverty and the difficult circumstances in which children had to grow up under eyes. That touched him enormously. Not for nothing he subsequently founded the Kids Rights Foundation, which is committed to children's rights in developing countries. '' Because the Children's Ombudsman for the time being will remain on the sidelines, his brother would not further comment on his 'brother'. ,, I want to leave here, I respect the choice of Marc to speak not yet out in the media. ''

Conversation
The Parliamentary Standing Committee Interior talks today behind closed doors with National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen about the vacancy. He did not respond yesterday. A spokesman refers to the site of the National Ombudsman, which Van Zutphen reports wanting to build his own team.

Ingrid Willems / Source: AD.nl/ © Eric Brinkhorst.