THE HAGUE - In a recent statement, State Secretary of Kingdom Relations, Van Huffelen, expressed her deep sadness over the fact that not everyone within the Kingdom has the freedom to marry the person they love. She specifically highlighted the regrettable absence of registered partnership options in Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
The response comes following a question posed by the Senate faction of the SGP, a political party known for its strong opposition to same-sex marriage. In contrast, factions such as D66 and JA21 believe that Van Huffelen should take more substantial actions to persuade the governments of Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten to eliminate discrimination against same-sex couples. Despite these calls, she refrains from direct involvement, citing a respect for the autonomy of the individual countries.
Acknowledging the broader implications, Van Huffelen recognizes that the Kingdom as a whole is currently in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) due to the absence of any form of registered partnership in Curaçao and Sint Maarten. She anticipates the judgment of the Supreme Court on the matter of introducing same-sex marriage in these countries.