THE HAGUE - The Dutch Cabinet has sent a progress letter on the government's response to the slavery past to the House of Representatives. The letter provides insight into the steps taken since the apologies for the slavery past were offered and outlines the next steps in the process. According to a statement, the Cabinet states in the letter that progress has been made on the commitments outlined in the government's response, such as further development of the €200 million fund and the establishment of a commemoration committee.
The Cabinet states that concrete measures have been initiated, including various commitments to the six islands, the implementation of the Equal Treatment Act on Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius, and the possibility of changing the names of descendants of enslaved individuals.
The follow-up process after the apologies was announced by Prime Minister Rutte on December 19, when apologies were offered on behalf of the government for the involvement of the Dutch State in the slavery past.
In recent months, discussions have taken place with descendants and other stakeholders about the apologies, both in mainland Netherlands and in the Caribbean region.
Two important commitments from the government's response are the establishment of a commemoration committee and the €200 million fund. The commemoration committee will ensure a dignified and large-scale commemoration of the slavery past, possibly in collaboration with Suriname. The fund is divided into two parts: €100 million for societal initiatives and €100 million for measures focused on knowledge and awareness, recognition and commemoration, and impact and processing.
The Caribbean part of the Kingdom is also involved in the process. The Cabinet states that commitments have been made to all six islands and that they are working together with descendants, civil society organizations, and local authorities to implement them.
After the summer, the Cabinet will organize a gathering in the Caribbean region to support various organizations and ensure the involvement of residents.
The commemoration year of the slavery past will take place from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2024. Two funds have been established to organize cultural, societal, and educational activities related to the slavery past. The Mondriaan Fund and the Fund for Cultural Participation have received additional resources, making a total of 6 million euros available.
Dozens of projects will be supported, including the literary project and digital platform "Wintertuin Curaçao" that explores the shared history of Curaçao and Ghana. The Caribbean part of the Kingdom will also receive a portion of these funds.