THE HAGUE – Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten and the Netherlands are working together on a comprehensive strategy to address growing youth crime in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, with particular attention to preventing young people from becoming involved in violent and organized criminal activities.
Dutch Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel described the situation as a major problem in a report on the recent Judicial Four-Party Consultation (JVO), held in Curaçao, which he submitted to the Dutch House of Representatives.
According to Van Weel, the four countries recognize the need for coordinated action to prevent young people from entering criminal networks and progressing toward more serious forms of criminal behavior.
“This is a major problem,” Van Weel stated in his report.
He emphasized that the JVO is focusing on preventing young people from becoming involved in crime in the first place, while also addressing the risk that juvenile offenders may eventually become involved in violent and organized crime.
The initiative reflects concerns about increasing criminal activity among young people, particularly on the Caribbean islands, and the need for preventive measures that address the underlying problems.
Although the four countries are developing a joint approach, Van Weel emphasized that crime prevention remains an autonomous responsibility of each country within the Kingdom.
This means that Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten and the Netherlands are, in principle, individually responsible for financing the implementation of recommendations and activities within their respective jurisdictions.
The Netherlands will provide support through technical expertise, the exchange of knowledge and the sharing of successful approaches and best practices.
As part of the initiative, the four countries are working on a comprehensive analysis of the youth crime problem, including identifying the groups most at risk of becoming involved in criminal activities.
The findings will help shape an integrated action plan aimed at improving prevention efforts and reducing the likelihood that young people become involved in serious crime.
To support the development of the strategy, a conference will be organized in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom in 2027.
The conference will provide an opportunity to gather additional input for the proposed action plan and strengthen cooperation among the participating countries.
The initiative places youth crime prevention on the agenda of Kingdom-wide judicial cooperation, while maintaining the responsibility of each country to develop and finance its own preventive measures.
The objective is to establish a coordinated approach that helps prevent young people from entering criminal environments and reduces the risk of their involvement in violent and organized crime.