Protecting Bonaire’s Indigenous Women and Girls

The thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action served as a poignant backdrop for Davika Bissessar Shaw, president of the Bonaire Human Rights Organization, to address the Interactive Multi-Stakeholder Hearing at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This landmark declaration, adopted in 1995 by 189 countries, stands as a testament to the global commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. It provides a comprehensive framework across twelve crucial areas, including education, health, violence, and political participation, urging governments and civil society to implement concrete actions to eliminate discrimination and ensure equal rights and opportunities for all.

Bissessar Shaw’s statement brought into sharp focus the unique challenges faced by children and youth living under colonial rule in Bonaire, a small Caribbean island. She highlighted the Bonaire Human Rights Organization’s Youth and Children Program, a community-driven initiative designed to instill the values of dignity, equality, and civic participation in the next generation. The program, scheduled to launch in the upcoming school year and continue through 2030, will employ community-based outreach and engagement through various local platforms, including civil society organizations, churches, and other community groups. Its core objective is to educate young people on fundamental human rights principles, fostering a foundation for lasting and meaningful change.

Teacher training forms a crucial component of the program, equipping educators with the tools to impart human rights values throughout the community. This training aims to cultivate critical thinking, an understanding of justice, and respect for diversity among students, empowering them to become future leaders who can uplift their communities. This commitment to education as a bedrock for change recognizes the transformative potential of informed and engaged citizens in shaping a more equitable and just society.

However, these efforts are being undertaken in the face of significant structural inequalities. One glaring example is the denial of the right to education in their native language, Papiamentu, for children attending Bonaire’s sole secondary school. The Dutch-controlled education system, by failing to reflect the island’s unique identity and cultural context, actively undermines the children’s development and infringes upon their fundamental human rights. This linguistic exclusion serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive impact of colonial structures on the daily lives and educational opportunities of Bonaire’s children.

In response to these challenges, the Bonaire Human Rights Organization actively advocates on the international stage, raising awareness not just for Bonaire, but also for other marginalized communities in the Caribbean facing similar struggles under colonial rule. As a member of the CARICOM Reparations Commission and a UN-accredited organization, the organization collaborates with regional and international partners to advocate for justice, decolonization, and youth empowerment. This strategic alliance building highlights the importance of collective action in addressing systemic inequalities and advocating for human rights on a global scale.

The organization’s message emphasizes the inseparable link between decolonization and gender justice, arguing that without the fundamental right to self-determination, the rights of children, particularly girls, remain perpetually vulnerable. The call for global solidarity underscores the shared responsibility of the international community to ensure that no child or community is left behind in the pursuit of equality and justice. The organization’s plea serves as a reminder that achieving true gender equality requires addressing the root causes of inequality, including the legacy of colonialism and its ongoing impact on marginalized communities. The organization’s tireless advocacy and community-based programs represent a powerful force for change, striving to create a future where the children of Bonaire can thrive in dignity, equality, and the full realization of their human rights.