WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s ability to design and implement effective social and economic policy is being fundamentally undermined by a persistent lack of reliable, detailed data. That is one of the clearest warnings issued by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in its latest assessment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which explicitly includes Curaçao.
According to the Committee, the absence of disaggregated and up-to-date data makes it impossible to accurately assess living conditions, measure inequality or evaluate whether government policies are improving the lives of residents. Without solid data, policymaking risks being based on assumptions rather than evidence.
Policy Without Numbers
The UN Committee notes that Curaçao lacks comprehensive statistical information on key areas such as poverty, access to healthcare, educational outcomes, housing conditions and discrimination. While general figures may exist, they are often outdated, incomplete or not broken down by income level, gender, disability status, migration background or neighborhood.
This creates major blind spots in public policy. Government programs may be well-intended, the Committee observes, but without precise data it is impossible to know who is being reached, who is being left behind and whether public money is actually producing results.
The problem is not limited to social policy. Data gaps also affect economic planning, labor market analysis and long-term development strategies, reducing Curaçao’s capacity to respond effectively to emerging challenges.
Vulnerable Groups Most Affected
The UN Committee highlights that the lack of disaggregated data disproportionately harms vulnerable groups. Migrants, people with disabilities, low-income households and individuals in precarious employment often remain statistically invisible. As a result, their specific needs are not adequately reflected in policy design.
For example, without detailed data on housing insecurity, it is difficult to target affordable housing programs. Without accurate information on health outcomes, preventive care and chronic disease management cannot be properly planned. And without clear insight into educational disparities, efforts to close achievement gaps risk missing their mark.
The Committee warns that invisibility in data often translates into invisibility in decision-making.
Accountability at Risk
Beyond policy effectiveness, the lack of reliable data also undermines transparency and democratic accountability. The UN Committee stresses that governments can only be held accountable when outcomes can be measured and compared over time.
In Curaçao’s case, limited statistical capacity makes it harder for Parliament, civil society and the public to evaluate whether constitutional and international obligations are being met. This weakens oversight and reduces trust in public institutions.
The Committee notes that this problem is particularly concerning given Curaçao’s commitments under international human rights treaties, which require measurable progress and regular reporting.
Call for Stronger Statistical Capacity
The UN urges Curaçao, with support from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, to invest in robust statistical systems capable of producing high-quality, disaggregated data on economic, social and cultural rights. This includes strengthening institutions such as the Central Bureau of Statistics, improving data collection methods and ensuring regular publication of findings.
Importantly, the Committee emphasizes that data must not only be collected, but also made publicly accessible. Transparency, it argues, is essential for informed public debate and evidence-based governance.
A Known Problem, Long Unresolved
The warning from the UN does not come as a surprise to policymakers or experts on the island. For years, audits, academic studies and advisory bodies have pointed to gaps in Curaçao’s data infrastructure. Yet progress has been slow, often due to limited resources, competing political priorities and fragmented responsibilities.
The UN assessment underscores that this is no longer a technical issue alone. It is a structural weakness with real consequences for people’s lives.
Without Data, No Direction
The Committee’s message is clear: without reliable data, Curaçao is effectively navigating social and economic challenges without a compass. Policies cannot be properly targeted, progress cannot be measured, and rights cannot be fully protected.
Addressing these blind spots, the UN concludes, is a prerequisite for sustainable development, effective governance and the meaningful realization of economic and social rights on the island.