THE HAGUE - State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Alexandra van Huffelen accepts the refusal of the governments of Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten to put an end to the discrimination against same-sex couples.
"Over the past months, I have had discussions on this issue with the prime ministers of the Caribbean countries. Although most of the conversations were constructive and empathetic, at this moment, there is not enough willingness to open up marriage to same-sex partners. This is regrettable, but considering the autonomy of the countries, my options for action are limited," Van Huffelen wrote today in response to a request from Senator Dittrich of the Dutch D66 party.
The state secretary points out that the European Convention on Human Rights and fundamental freedoms apply throughout the Kingdom. However, she apparently does not see a reason to use Article 43 (which ensures the protection of human rights as a matter of the Kingdom) to ensure that the countries fulfill their treaty obligations. Curaçao and Aruba have been sentenced by the court but have appealed against the verdict.
Same-sex couples in the CAS countries face various practical problems, including difficulties in obtaining housing and securing insurance.