What does the National Institute for Human Rights do?

Human rights for everyone

Human rights apply to all people in the world. Examples include the right to equal treatment, the right to housing, and the right to education or health care. You can find more information about human rights on our pages about important human rights in the Caribbean Netherlands.

The Institute was established to advocate for human rights in both the Caribbean and European Netherlands. So, what exactly do we do on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba?

Tasks of the Institute in the Caribbean Netherlands

The Institute has various responsibilities in the Caribbean Netherlands that are laid down in the law. These responsibilities are explained below.

Advising & encouraging

As an Institute, we have an advisory role. We issue advice to the government and parliament of the Netherlands. The government consists of the King and all ministers. The parliament consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba belong to the Netherlands as special municipalities. The legal term for this is “public entities.” The islands are not independent countries like Aruba, Curaçao, or Sint Maarten. Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba do not have their own government or parliament. That is why we address our advice for the Caribbean Netherlands to the Dutch government and parliament.

We are also asked to review new laws. In those cases, we check whether human rights have been properly considered in the plans. We also provide unsolicited advice. This means that we address the government if it appears that human rights are not sufficiently protected in proposals or policy.

For many years, the Institute has been committed to ensuring that human rights are upheld in the same way on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. People in the Caribbean Netherlands must receive the same protection of their human rights as people in the European Netherlands. In addition, we insist that human rights treaties that apply to the European Netherlands must also apply to the Caribbean Netherlands. We also refer to this as encouraging. Human rights treaties are international agreements on fair and equal treatment of people. For example, there are treaties for better treatment of people with disabilities (the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) and for better treatment of women and girls (the Istanbul Convention).

Research

The Institute also conducts research into the state of human rights on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. We listen to everyone in society: what is going well and what is not going well? We publish reports on this, to contribute to better compliance with human rights. For example, we report to international organizations such as the United Nations.

Decisions

As of January 1, 2026, you can file a complaint with the Institute in the Caribbean Netherlands if you believe you have been discriminated against. For example, at work, at school, or somewhere else. The Institute Members will investigate your complaint and assess whether discrimination did take place. They are officially the only staff members of the Institute who can issue a decision on discrimination complaints. This way, you can gain clarity: is it discrimination or not?

Sometimes a decision is not the best solution. It may be better to start by talking with each other. That is why the Institute, in consultation with you and the other party, may decide to start mediation. In that case, you try to reach a solution together, with the help of an independent mediator. That is someone who thinks along with both parties and facilitates negotiation.

You can find more information about how to file a complaint and the further process on our page about requesting a decision.

Providing information

The Institute also provides information about human rights on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. For example, through meetings on the islands for residents, or through the website, media, and social media. To make residents more aware of their rights, but also to show them how these rights can be protected better.

In the menu above, you can read more about our mission and vision, and what the Institute actually is: for example, who are the Institute members and what is their role? You will also find more information about what we have done so far in the Caribbean Netherlands and what we are planning to do.