WILLEMSTAD - The Emma Bridge glowed bright orange and Brionplein fell silent on Monday evening—two powerful statements against the rising tide of violence against women on Curaçao. On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, members of the Women’s Steering Committee Curaçao (WSCC) gathered at Brionplein for their first silent demonstration, while the Curaçao Ports Authority once again illuminated the Queen Emma Bridge in orange as part of the global UN campaign Orange the World.
At Brionplein, WSCC members stood side by side with representatives of partner organizations, remaining completely silent as an act of solidarity with survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Without speeches, music, or slogans, the group sought to draw attention to what they describe as a growing crisis on the island.
The organization stressed that both verbal and physical abuse on Curaçao continue to rise—with deadly consequences. Women are being assaulted or killed, they noted, leaving behind children and families who must navigate the trauma and loss. This reality, the WSCC emphasized, can no longer be ignored.
Just a few dozen meters away, the Emmabrug was lit in bright orange later that evening—an annual action organized by Soroptimist International together with the Curaçao Ports Authority. The illumination serves as a visual reminder of the ongoing fight against violence toward women and girls.
According to Soroptimist International, reports of domestic violence on Curaçao increased by more than 60 percent in 2023. Across the Caribbean, nearly half of all women experience some form of violence during their lifetime.
By combining a silent local demonstration with an international awareness campaign, Curaçao’s city center became a focal point of advocacy and reflection. Both the WSCC and the Soroptimists say such visible actions are essential to keeping the conversation alive—and to showing support for the women who face violence every day.