Attachments
Context
Aruba and Curacao are two self-governing constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. They are autonomous but are not part of the European Union. Neither Dutch asylum law nor European law and directives apply to these two countries. The 1967 Protocol and the 1951 Refugee Convention do apply to Aruba. Curaçao does not consider itself bound by these instruments. In Aruba, the former Minister of Tourism stated that over 20,000 undocumented people are estimated to be living in the country. The “Nos Pais” platform, an initiative he leads, suggests implementing a regularization exercise that allows undocumented people to contribute to taxes. The Minister of Integration suggests changes in Aruba's policies due to labor shortage, including speeding up permit application processes and creating new opportunities for foreign nationals. In Curacao, the Ministry of Justice won a legal case regarding the Responsible Integration Policy. This was introduced in March 2021 to provide a pathway for those who entered irregularly to legalize their stay. In previous years, the First Instance Court had ruled in favor of over 200 people who contested their negative decisions. However, the Ministry now won the appeal procedure, questioning the evidence presented by the group.