WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten remain under international monitoring regarding the treatment of long-term prisoners with psychiatric disorders, according to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs' 2025 Report on International Human Rights Procedures.
The report reveals that on March 31, 2025, the Kingdom of the Netherlands provided an update to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe regarding developments involving long-term detainees with psychiatric diagnoses in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. The issue remains under active supervision following previous rulings by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
The matter returned to the agenda of the Committee of Ministers on December 3, 2025. During that meeting, Aruba's Minister of Justice and Curaçao's Minister Plenipotentiary personally participated in the debate and were required to account for the implementation of the court's judgments.
The continued involvement of senior government officials highlights the seriousness with which European institutions view compliance with human rights obligations within the Kingdom.
The Committee of Ministers is responsible for supervising the execution of ECHR judgments and ensuring that governments take the necessary measures to remedy violations and prevent future occurrences.
The report indicates that the issue remains unresolved and that the Kingdom continues to provide updates on reforms and improvements within the prison and mental health systems of the Caribbean countries.
For Curaçao, the ongoing scrutiny underscores broader concerns about detention facilities, psychiatric care for inmates, and compliance with international human rights standards.
The case remains one of the most closely watched human rights matters involving the Caribbean countries of the Kingdom.