WILLEMSTAD - Member of the European Parliament Samira Rafaela will be on a working visit to Curaçao in the coming week. The theme of the visit is women's rights and improved access to European funds and subsidies.
In the coming days, Rafaela wants to be informed by civil society organizations and experts about the problem of violence against women. “I would like to see the Istanbul Convention also come into force in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. It has always surprised me that this treaty has not been implemented Kingdom-wide," says the MEP.
On 1 March 2016, the Istanbul Convention came into effect for the Netherlands, the convention of the Council of Europe to combat violence against women and domestic violence. In practice, however, it appears that the implementation of this treaty in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom is lagging behind. “It is a European treaty and as a MEP with an eye and love for the Overseas Countries and Territories, my priority is that these kinds of important treaties, to protect women's rights, also have an effect here.”
Rafaela will enter into discussions with umbrella organizations that discuss projects aimed at gender equality and tackling domestic violence. She also visits employees of the Stay-off-my-body home, the Bos di Hubentut Foundation and other experts. Rafaela had already discussed the importance of volunteer work in Curaçao with Cura Doet.