The Kingdom Taskforce for Children’s Rights recently held a successful meeting in Aruba, marking a key step in the Kingdom’s ongoing collaboration to strengthen the protection and promotion of children’s rights across all member islands.
The meeting was chaired by Ms. Sacha Geerman from Aruba’s Ministry of Social Affairs, who currently serves as Chairwoman of the Taskforce. This was the first in-person gathering since the adoption of the Strategic Framework, National Action Plans, and Monitoring Framework, developed with the assistance of UNICEF The Netherlands. For the first time, these tools provide a structured and measurable approach to child rights cooperation among the islands.
As a strategic advisor, UNICEF The Netherlands participated in the meeting where each island presented findings from local studies on vulnerable children. Topics included migrant children in education (Saba), youth crime (Bonaire and St. Maarten), undocumented children (Curaçao), children with autism (St. Eustatius), and children with special needs (Aruba).
The discussions also covered inter-island residential care, Aruba’s parenting plan initiative, and the “Alleen jij bepaalt” (You get to decide) program focused on prevention and behavioral change. Members experienced TeamUp, a psychosocial support program for children facing difficult circumstances.
In her welcoming speech, Aruba’s Minister of Social Affairs, Elderly Care, and Addiction Care, Drs. Mervin Wyatt-Ras, emphasized the importance of collaboration and shared responsibility among all islands in protecting children’s rights.
During the internal session, representatives from Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten provided progress updates on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) recommendations since 2022. Members also met with Aruba’s Children’s Rights Commission and visited two local schools—Scol basico Dornasol and Scol Dun’ un man—both supporting children with special educational needs.
The meeting concluded with the Taskforce expressing gratitude to the Government of Aruba for its warm hospitality and excellent organization, reaffirming their joint commitment to ensuring that every child in the Kingdom grows up safely and with equal opportunities.
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