Better protection for privacy when Caribbean Netherlands residents report discrimination | News

News | 15-08-2024 | 17:39

Under this regulation, residents of the Caribbean Netherlands will have clear information about which personal data may be processed, to whom it may be provided and for how long it may be stored.

Minister Utmark (Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations):

“Equal treatment is a constitutional right and it is important that equal rights laws also apply in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. In this regard, we need to ensure that the privacy of those reporting discrimination is optimally protected. This way everyone can feel confident making such reports.”

State Secretary Zsolt Szabó (Digitalization and Kingdom Relations):

“By protecting the privacy of citizens of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, I hope that residents of these islands will have a lower threshold to report discrimination when they experience it. I hope that people will use this opportunity to think about how best to regulate this behavior.”

Better protection against discrimination

The regulation is part of a legislative proposal the Dutch government is preparing on equal treatment in the Caribbean Netherlands.

With equal treatment legislation, residents of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba can resort to anti-discrimination provisions if they feel they have been discriminated against on any grounds (sex, age, descent, religion, disability, sexual orientation, etc.).
Residents can also file reports with the new anti-discrimination agency and seek free help and advice there. To this end, each island will have a special help desk where people can ask a wider range of legal questions. Finally, residents can seek a ruling on their case from the Human Rights Council.