Prime Minister Attends UN Women Conference on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls

Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes attended various meetings at the United Nations during the "Summit of the Future," representing Aruba and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. One key event she participated in was the UN Women conference titled "Accelerating Spotlight Initiative's High-Impact Effort to End Violence Against Women and Girls." This initiative focuses on swiftly addressing and halting violence against women and girls worldwide.

During her speech, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of global efforts to achieve gender equality and advocate for the rights and well-being of women and girls. She highlighted that the "Pact for the Future" recognizes the critical role gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls play in sustainable development. Gender-based violence, she noted, is one of the most visible manifestations of gender inequality, further underscoring the urgency to address its root causes.

The Prime Minister stressed that the time for action is now, and nations must commit to eradicating all forms of violence against women and girls. Aruba and the Kingdom of the Netherlands are firmly committed to this cause. Although Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten are not eligible to participate in the "Spotlight Initiative" due to their membership status, these islands are fully focused on prevention efforts and protecting survivors of gender-based violence.

During her address, the Prime Minister took the opportunity to thank UN Women for providing technical assistance to Aruba, helping the country develop its first National Gender Equality Plan, and for supporting knowledge exchange efforts. She informed the audience that the Aruban government has taken concrete steps to address gender-based violence, including commissioning an implementation plan through a ministerial decree aimed at eradicating violence against women and girls.

Aruba has also established a foundation dedicated to this cause, which conducts prevention training alongside key stakeholders directly involved in handling such cases. These efforts are designed to ensure that victims receive proper care and are informed of their legal options.