WILLEMSTAD - A ruling by the Court of Appeal in The Hague regarding water shut-offs offers new perspectives for the association Hende i Medio Ambiente (HiMA) in Curaçao, which aims to impose a ban on water shut-offs for less privileged households on the island. The association is now considering its next steps. 

The Dutch judicial authority ruled that water companies and the state must do everything reasonably possible to prevent households with minors from being deprived of access to clean drinking water. 

The case, which was heard before the appellate court in the Netherlands, underscored the duty of care of both the water companies and the state regarding access to clean drinking water, especially for families with minors. 

The judges ruled that the welfare of children should be a primary consideration in policies concerning water shut-offs. This precedent opens up possibilities for HiMA to push for similar legal protections in a new lawsuit in Curaçao. 

HiMA has previously drawn attention to the issue of water shut-offs in households unable to pay their bills and sees the Dutch ruling as strong support for their earlier lawsuit, which was lost in Curaçao. 

The association hopes that the Dutch ruling will contribute to a broader recognition of the need to protect vulnerable households in Curaçao from water shut-offs. 

The government and Aqualectra, the water company in Curaçao, have already implemented some measures to support households facing financial difficulties, but according to HiMA, these are not sufficient to guarantee access to clean drinking water for all citizens. 

With the Dutch ruling as legal precedent, HiMA hopes that the courts in Curaçao will recognize the importance of a complete ban on water shut-offs in households with minors as a crucial step towards realizing this fundamental human right.