WILLEMSTAD – Our Angels Journey Foundation Curaçao is calling on the government to complete a proposed legal change concerning the recognition of children lost during pregnancy, saying parents have waited seven years for concrete action.
Foundation chair Farièle van Wilgen made the appeal during the opening of the annual awareness and remembrance month dedicated to pregnancy and child loss.
“Every child deserves a name. The struggle of parents to obtain recognition for their child must come to an end,” Van Wilgen said.
According to the foundation, pregnancy loss and the death of a child remain difficult subjects to discuss openly in Curaçao. Parents often experience their grief in silence, while relatives and friends may struggle with how to speak about the loss or provide appropriate support.
Our Angels Journey Foundation has been advocating for seven years for changes to the law that would provide greater recognition to parents and their children following pregnancy loss. The organization says the time has come for the process to move beyond discussions and result in concrete measures.
The renewed appeal comes during October, when the foundation is once again raising awareness about pregnancy and child loss. This is the third consecutive year that the organization has dedicated the month to remembrance, awareness and support for affected families.
Activities began with a memorial walk honoring children who have died and the parents and families who continue to carry their memory.
As part of the program, the foundation will also organize a seminar on October 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the International School of Curaçao.
The seminar will focus on pregnancy loss, grief and the experiences and position of parents following the death of a child.
Through the activities, Our Angels Journey Foundation hopes not only to encourage greater public discussion of pregnancy and child loss but also to renew pressure on the government to complete the legal process that the organization has advocated for over the past seven years.