On 5 February 2026 the Minister for Youth, Prevention and Sport, Judith Tielen, informed the Dutch House of Representatives about the progress being made on the ratification for the Caribbean Netherlands of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Istanbul Convention. Both conventions are intended to protect fundamental rights. The purpose of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is to ensure that people with disabilities have equal rights and are able to participate fully and effectively in society, while the Istanbul Convention addresses violence against women and domestic violence.
The government is taking new steps to ensure that these conventions also come into force on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. With this in mind, legislation such as the Equal Treatment Act (Algemene wet Gelijke behandeling) and the rules for social support have already been amended. A multi-year work agenda (for the period from 2026 to 2030) is also being developed to improve accessibility and participation for people with disabilities.
On 9 December 2025, a new administrative agreement was concluded between the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the Ministry of Justice and Security, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment and the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and the Public Entities of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba for the 2026–2029 period. The focus of this agreement is on six main objectives, including gender equality, the better detection of violence and robust support for victims. A legislative amendment is also being drafted which will allow temporary restraining orders to be imposed, as part of the criminal justice approach to domestic violence.