Caribbean islands join forces on children’s rights

ARUBA--The Intercountry Taskforce on Children’s Rights recently met in Aruba, where for the first time all six islands worked with a single, structured approach to strengthen the protection of children.

The meeting was chaired by Sacha Geerman of Aruba’s Ministry of Social Affairs. With support from UNICEF Netherlands, the Taskforce agreed on a strategic framework and concrete action plans that will allow progress to be monitored and evaluated over time.

Delegations from each island shared findings from recent research on vulnerable groups. Saba focused on migrant children in education, Bonaire on juvenile delinquency, Curaçao on undocumented children, St. Eustatius on children with autism, St. Maarten on youth and crime, and Aruba on children with disabilities in the school system.

Minister of Social Affairs Mervin Wyatt-Ras underlined the “power of cooperation and the shared responsibility of all islands to safeguard children’s rights.” Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten also reported on steps taken to follow up recommendations from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. The program concluded with visits to schools that provide support to children with disabilities.

The Taskforce brings together representatives of all six Caribbean islands and relevant Dutch ministries. Established in 2014, it aims to improve implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child throughout the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

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