WILLEMSTAD - Human Rights Defense Curaçao (HRDC) calls on all parties involved in the incidents surrounding the Marnix College to take their responsibility to prevent such incidents from happening again.
"The Curaçao Police Force (KPC) must take appropriate disciplinary action against the perpetrators of the most egregious violations," said HRDC. According to HRDC, more investment should be made in the training of police officers to prevent recurrence.
HRDC: "School should be a safe place for all children, regardless of their culture, religion, nationality and gender. Safety at school is essential for the protection of every child." HRDC recognizes the need for preventive checks. "However, the working method of the police must, as indicated by the police themselves during the press conference yesterday, meet the requirements of proportionality and subsidiarity", according to the human rights organization.
In addition, agents must behave in a professional manner. HRDC notes that unfortunately this was not always the case during the preventive checks. "It is regrettable that the actions of the police have caused unnecessarily traumatic experiences among children," HRDC said.
Furthermore, HRDC believes that it is high time that the institution of a Children's Ombudsman is installed as soon as possible. HRDC wrote to parliament about this at the end of last year and a National Ordinance was adopted on the International Day of the Child, 20 December 2020.
"That gives more guarantee that children and young people are protected and have the opportunity to develop in freedom and security into resilient citizens of a resilient and democratic Curaçao", according to HRDC.
HRDC is an organization that stands up for the human rights of all residents of Curaçao. As a vulnerable target group, children are given particular priority.