THE HAGUE - In response to Amnesty International's recent report, “Aruba: Rules but No Protection – unveiling gaps in refugee protection of Venezuelans in Aruba,” which raises concerns about the island's asylum policies and alleged human rights violations, Minister Marjolein Faber stated that the Netherlands is aware of the report but has not yet provided a detailed response to its findings.
“We still need to study the report further,” said Faber. She emphasized that migration policies and human rights protection are primarily the responsibility of the autonomous countries within the Kingdom, and that Aruba is in charge of maintaining a sound migration policy.
Repatriation Flights Funded by Dutch Government
However, according to Amnesty International, the Netherlands plays a significant role in Aruba’s migration policy. Since 2019, the Netherlands has provided financial and technical support to the island to bring its asylum procedures and facilities in line with international standards. Amnesty warns that by funding deportation flights, the Netherlands may be implicated in human rights violations, specifically the breach of the non-refoulement principle, which prohibits returning refugees to unsafe conditions.
Although Aruba is a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Amnesty International points out that the Dutch government is still responsible for upholding international human rights treaties. The organization calls on both Aruba and the Netherlands to take their obligations seriously and improve the protection of refugees on the island.