WILLEMSTAD – The Kingdom is placing increased emphasis on extending the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to Curaçao and the other Caribbean countries, identifying the treaty as one of two immediate human-rights priorities.
The decision is disclosed in the Netherlands’ proposed 2027 Kingdom Relations budget.
Representatives of the Netherlands, Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten are working through a joint committee on a group of seven human-rights treaties that have yet to be fully implemented throughout the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.
For the current period, the committee has selected the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Istanbul Convention on violence against women and domestic violence as its two priorities.
According to the Dutch government, both could have a substantial impact on the legal protection of vulnerable groups in Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten.
Implementation does not automatically follow from a political decision. Each country must determine whether its legislation, policies, institutions and practical arrangements comply with the treaty requirements.
The amount of work still required varies between the islands.
The four countries have agreed to identify remaining measures and develop implementation plans where necessary. The Netherlands can provide support during the process.
No date is given in the budget for when the disability convention will formally take effect in Curaçao.