WILLEMSTAD - The court in Willemstad has issued rulings in four cases that strike down the detention policy of Minister Shalten Hato of Justice.
The detention of thirteen foreigners after May 24 of this year is considered unlawful by the Court of First Instance. The Minister of Justice failed to timely assess whether there was still a prospect of removing these foreigners.
According to his own policy, this assessment should have taken place six months after the commencement of the detention of the foreigners, but it did not happen. The subsequent release to which the foreigners are entitled also did not occur, for which the minister is now being reprimanded.
The court rulings resulted in the immediate release of the remaining five detained Venezuelan foreigners. This included four men and one woman, who had been held in the detention center for between eight and eleven months while fleeing to Curaçao in search of protection.
The fact that the remaining foreigners had withdrawn their protection requests under Article 3 ECHR and had been deported does not diminish the significance of these judicial rulings.
Rights
The Court of First Instance emphasizes the importance of safeguarding the rights and procedures of foreigners, and underscores that careful evaluations and decision-making are essential to protect their rights.
Human Rights Defense Curaçao, which provides legal and social support to Venezuelans, underscores this and has been advocating for a more meticulous procedure for years, one that respects the human rights of all individuals.