THE HAGUE – Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten have formally expressed their dissatisfaction with the Kingdom of the Netherlands' decision to abstain from a United Nations vote recognizing slavery and the trans-Atlantic slave trade as one of the gravest crimes against humanity.
The issue was raised during the Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultation (IPKO) in The Hague after the three Caribbean countries adopted a joint resolution during a separate tripartite meeting.
According to the official IPKO agreements, the countries objected not only to the Kingdom's abstention during the March 2026 vote, but also to the fact that the governments of Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten were not consulted beforehand.
The UN resolution classified the trans-Atlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans and slavery as one of the most serious crimes against humanity. Nearly two-thirds of UN member states voted in favor of the resolution.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands was among 52 countries that abstained.
For the Caribbean countries, where the legacy of slavery remains deeply connected to national identity and historical memory, the decision generated significant concern.
The issue was formally presented to the Dutch parliamentary delegation during IPKO by the presidents of the parliaments of Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten.
The resolution highlights growing calls from the Caribbean countries for greater consultation on Kingdom positions in international organizations, particularly on issues that directly affect the history and identity of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.
The matter is expected to remain on the political agenda as discussions continue about the Kingdom's approach to slavery recognition, reparations and historical justice.