WILLEMSTAD – Amnesty International has accused Curaçao’s Minister of Justice, Shalten Hato, of avoiding direct discussions about human rights for several years, claiming that he has failed to respond to correspondence and refused requests for meetings. The minister disputes the suggestion that his ministry is unwilling to engage with the organization but acknowledges that he is reluctant to meet personally with its representatives.
The disagreement emerged following a working visit by Amnesty International Netherlands to Bonaire, Aruba and Curaçao. During the visit, a delegation attended the Human Rights Conference at the University of Curaçao earlier this week.
Dagmar Oudshoorn, director of Amnesty International Netherlands, indicated that she regrets the minister's unwillingness to engage directly with the organization.
According to Oudshoorn, democratic governments should remain accessible to independent human rights organizations, particularly when questions arise concerning the treatment of detainees and the protection of vulnerable individuals.
Amnesty International wants to discuss several issues with the minister, including detention conditions and the treatment of undocumented migrants. The organization is also seeking access to Curaçao's immigration detention facilities to independently assess the conditions under which people are being held.
The organization maintains that monitoring government practices and investigating potential human rights violations are essential parts of its mandate.
However, Hato has challenged Amnesty's characterization of the situation.
Speaking to Èxtra, the minister acknowledged that longstanding disagreements exist between his ministry and Amnesty International. These differences concern not only the organization's conclusions about human rights conditions in Curaçao but also how information obtained on the island is interpreted and presented in Amnesty's reports.
Hato said these disagreements explain his reluctance to participate in discussions at the ministerial level.
Nevertheless, he insisted that his ministry has not closed the door to dialogue.
According to the minister, Oudshoorn has repeatedly been referred to officials and policy specialists within the Ministry of Justice who are responsible for communicating with Amnesty International.
Hato claims that the Amnesty director has declined to meet with these officials, raising questions about why the organization insists on speaking directly with him rather than with the ministry's designated representatives.
The dispute comes at a time when Curaçao's immigration detention policies remain under international scrutiny.
Amnesty International has repeatedly raised concerns about the treatment of Venezuelan migrants and asylum seekers, including the use of immigration detention and access to legal protection.
In July 2025, the Joint Court of Justice ruled that people could not automatically be detained solely because they entered Curaçao irregularly. Amnesty welcomed the decision and called on the government to ensure that detention is used only as a last resort.
Earlier this week, Amnesty representatives also met with Acting Governor Ruthsella Jansen to discuss migration, refugee protection and human rights. The meeting addressed Curaçao's policies under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the treatment of undocumented migrants and developments that could affect migration from Venezuela.
Meanwhile, Hato participated in the Human Rights Conference, where he emphasized the importance of making human rights accessible to the population. During the event, the official Papiamentu translation of the European Convention on Human Rights was presented.
Despite these activities, the disagreement between the minister and Amnesty International remains unresolved.
Oudshoorn hopes that a future working visit will provide an opportunity for direct discussions with Hato and allow Amnesty representatives to inspect immigration detention facilities.
Neither party has indicated whether concrete arrangements have been made concerning such access.
Amnesty International says it will continue investigating and monitoring the human rights situation in Curaçao regardless of whether the minister agrees to meet personally with its representatives.