Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Commend the Netherlands on its High Share of Women Parliamentarians, Ask about the Withdrawal of the Feminist Foreign Policy and Pregnancy-Related Workplace Discrimination
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its consideration of the seventh periodic report of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with Committee Experts praising the State’s high share of women parliamentarians and raising questions about the withdrawal of the feminist foreign policy and pregnancy-related workplace discrimination.
A Committee Expert highlighted positive developments in the State party, including the introduction of a statutory diversity quota in 2022 and progress in gender balance across public and private sectors. She said it was amazing that women now held 42 per cent of parliamentary seats.
One Committee Expert said the Netherlands had recently ended its commitment to a feminist foreign policy; why was this and what were the impacts of this decision? What was done to fund women, peace and security policies, and how was a gender perspective incorporated into all peace and security policies?
Another Expert presented a 2020 study that found that three-quarters of Dutch women who had given birth in the previous four years had experienced pregnancy-related discrimination. She asked how the State party would curb pregnancy-related employment discrimination.
Introducing the delegation, Mervin Wyatt-Ras, Minister of Public Health, Social Affairs, Elderly Care and Addiction Care, Government of Aruba, said that the Kingdom of the Netherlands consisted of four autonomous countries of equal status: the country of the Netherlands, which included the Caribbean islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba as special municipalities, and the countries of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Each country was autonomous in its implementation of the Convention.
Esther van Dijk, Director for Gender Equality and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Equality, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands, in opening remarks, said the Netherlands had a long-standing commitment to gender equality and non-discrimination. Given the current caretaker status of the Government, the Committee’s recommendations would be very timely, as they would be instrumental in the development of the policies of a new Government.
Representatives of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten also gave opening statements, presenting measures to promote the rights of women and girls in these territories, and the Chairperson of the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights presented the Institute’s assessment of the country’s efforts to implement women’s rights.
On the “feminist foreign policy”, the delegation said that women’s rights were an important pillar of the State party’s foreign policy, but due to budget and staffing constraints, these rights were no longer promoted under this banner. However, the Netherlands actively promoted these rights through its foreign trade and development policies. Budgets for women’s rights had reduced, but substantial funds remained available. The Government had allocated 40 million euros over the next five years for women, peace and security programmes.
Efforts were being made to tackle pregnancy discrimination, the delegation said. The State party was providing employees and employers with information about this form of discrimination and avenues where employees could seek advice regarding this discrimination. Employers were required to implement measures to ensure a safe working environment and respectful interaction among employees.
In closing remarks, Ms. Wyatt-Ras thanked the Committee for the dialogue and reiterated the firm commitment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the promotion and protection of women’s rights.
Committee Chair Nahla Haidar, in her concluding remarks, commended the State party on its efforts and encouraged it to take all necessary measures to address the Committee’s various recommendations for the benefit of all women and girls in the country.
The delegation of the Netherlands consisted of representatives of the Government of the Netherlands; the Government of Aruba, including its Ministry of Public Health, Social Affairs, Elderly Care and Addiction Care and its Department of Foreign Affairs; the Government of Curaçao, including its Ministry of Social Development, Labour, and Welfare; the Government of Sint Maarten, including its Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour; and the Permanent Mission of the Netherlands to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Committee will issue the concluding observations on the report of the Netherlands at the end of its ninety-second session on 20 February. All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.
The Committee will next meet at 10 a.m. on Monday, 9 February to meet with the representatives of national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations of Argentina, the Czech Republic, El Salvador and Lesotho, the States scheduled for review in the second week of the session.
Report
The Committee has before it the seventh periodic report of the Netherlands (CEDAW/C/NLD/7).
Presentation of Report
MERVIN WYATT-RAS, Minister of Public Health, Social Affairs, Elderly Care and Addiction Care, Government of Aruba, said that the Kingdom of the Netherlands consisted of four autonomous countries of equal status: the country of the Netherlands, which included the Caribbean islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba as special municipalities, which were also called the Caribbean Netherlands; and the countries of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Each country was autonomous in its implementation of the Convention.
ESTHER VAN DIJK, Director for Gender Equality and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Equality, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands, said the Netherlands had a long-standing commitment to gender equality and non-discrimination. Given the current caretaker status of the Government, the Committee’s recommendations would be very timely, as they would be instrumental in the development of the policies of a new Government. Ms. Van Dijk praised the tremendous efforts made by professionals in healthcare, education, sports, local governments, and the private sector to contribute to the advancement of gender equality in the Netherlands.
In the Netherlands, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science coordinated national policies aimed at gender equality, working closely with other ministries to foster gender mainstreaming throughout policy fields. Gender mainstreaming was further enhanced by the gender assessment, a mandatory component of the Policy Compass guidelines introduced in 2023. At the basis of all national gender equality policies lay the gender and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex equality policy plan. The latest policy plan, entitled “safe participation”, was published in June 2025 and focused on safety and freedom from gender-based violence, economic independence, labour market participation, equal access to education, and social inclusion.
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science worked with a range of non-governmental organization alliances to reach its gender equality goals. These formal strategic partnerships were supported through subsidy schemes and multi-year funding, running until 2027.
A periodic evaluation report published in September 2025 by an external research agency found that Dutch gender equality policies between 2018 and 2025 had positively contributed to gender equality. Over the past few years, the Netherlands had seen significant progress in the advancement of gender equality, despite political challenges and several changes in government.
Whilst women's labour participation in the Netherlands was high, with a 69 per cent employment rate in 2024, it was strongly characterised by part-time work and a disproportionate share in care responsibilities, which led to lower average hours, smaller earnings, and a gender pay gap for women compared to men. To ensure more women could participate fully in the workforce, compensation of paid parental leave had been raised to 70 per cent of the daily wage. The average number of working hours for women had increased from 2013 to 2024, and the State was working towards making childcare almost free for working parents by 2029.
Recent measures to boost the number of women in leadership positions were starting to bear fruit. In 2022, a statutory diversity quota of at least 33 per cent women and men on the supervisory boards of listed companies was introduced, followed by target figures in the semi-public and public sectors. As a result, the percentage of female board members of listed private companies had risen to 40 per cent and that of women in leadership roles in the semi-public and public sectors to 41 per cent. The Central Government strove for gender parity in its top echelons. Additionally, the alliance “becoming who you are” worked to challenge gender stereotyping that discouraged girls and women from choosing or staying in science, technology, engineering and maths education. Through initiatives like the “Politica Alliance”, the State was also working to encourage and support women in politics, providing them with training, networking opportunities, and the tools they needed to succeed.
The Netherlands was tackling sexual and gender-based violence head-on, including through legislative measures. The new sexual offences act, which came into effect in 2024, introduced online and offline sexual harassment as a punishable offense, as well as a consent-based definition of rape. Additionally, the national action programme on sexually transgressive behaviour and sexual violence would run until the end of 2026. The newly established men’s alliance aimed to promote the inclusion of men and boys as agents and beneficiaries of change. Additionally, on 7 June 2024, the Government launched the “stop femicide!” action plan, which aimed at preventing serious forms of violence against women and girls. Further, recently in December 2025, the Government announced its decision to appoint a National Coordinator for Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, who would be responsible for the development of a national action plan.
The Government had also taken several steps to support women’s healthcare. One of the most significant actions was the launch in 2025 of a five-year national strategy for women’s health, led by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, which included a programme on women-specific and gender-sensitive healthcare, with a focus on research, network development and infrastructure.
MERVIN WYATT-RAS, Minister of Public Health, Social Affairs, Elderly Care and Addiction Care, Government of Aruba, apologised for the absence of Aruba’s 2022 report. While this omission was regrettable, it did not reflect a lack of commitment. Aruba fully recognised the importance of the Convention and remained firmly committed to working steadily toward its full and effective implementation.
In 2023, the Council of Ministers designated the Department of Social Affairs as the lead authority for implementing the Istanbul Convention. In 2025, a legal-gap analysis was conducted with local departments and the United Nations Children's Fund Netherlands. The regional “no mas/no more” group advanced efforts toward the ratification of the Istanbul Convention and key actions on domestic violence, including protection measures and shelter cooperation. As of 1 April 2024, the new Code of Criminal Procedure entered into force. Title III was fully dedicated to victims’ rights, including the right to be heard, the right to timely and understandable information from the moment a report was filed, access to support and shelter, protection of personal safety, and information on the progress of criminal proceedings. The Public Prosecution Service had also issued guidelines for the police and identified victim-centred treatment as a key priority.
Aruba and the non-governmental organization Fundación Contra Violencia Relacional provided structured training modules within police education programmes. Conferences on women’s rights were organised annually in collaboration with government institutions, non-governmental organizations and academic partners. Additionally, the “orange the world” campaign had become a permanent fixture on the national agenda, reinforcing the State’s commitment to prevention and awareness.
Aruba had created the Directorate of Elderly Affairs to ensure an integrated and centralised approach to policy development, wellbeing and formal elderly care, grounded in prevention and service delivery. Through this initiative, 11,841 women over age 65, representing 23 per cent of the total female population, had been given a stronger voice and dedicated representation. Aruba continued to strengthen its commitment to equal opportunities and women’s active participation in national development. National labour and social programmes supported women’s employment and entrepreneurship, including initiatives for teenage and single mothers, complemented by skills training and capacity-building initiatives such as the “she means business” workshops. The Central Bureau of Statistics Aruba was working to develop a comprehensive national system to support evidence-based policymaking and monitoring.
CHARETTI AMERICA-FRANCISCA, Minister of Social Development, Labour and Welfare, Government of Curaçao, said that, since the previous review, Curaçao had taken concrete steps to further embed the provisions of the Convention into national legislation, policies and implementation. Curaçao continued to invest in cross-sectoral cooperation towards addressing complex social challenges. One of its highest priorities remained the prevention of and response to gender-based violence.
A key milestone in this regard was the introduction of the Kódigo di Protekshon (Protection Code) against child abuse and relational violence in Curaçao. This initiative, led by the Ministry of Social Development, Labour and Welfare, had resulted in concrete projects, structural improvement processes, and legislative developments. In addition, ratification of the Istanbul Convention was at an advanced stage. Various initiatives had also been developed to promote gender-equal roles within parenting and family life. Curaçao also actively participated in the “no mas/no more” initiative, which focused on the wellbeing and safety of women and on strengthening preventive measures.
Despite these developments, significant challenges remained, including the persistence of gender stereotypes and structural inequalities. Limited resources, small-scale systems and social vulnerabilities required an innovative, strategic and collaborative approach. International cooperation and knowledge exchange were of great importance for small island States such as Curaçao. The State also recognised the need to further strengthen gender-responsive policymaking and its implementation. Curaçao reaffirmed its enduring commitment to a future in which every woman and every girl could live free from violence, with equal opportunities, dignity and the ability to realise her full potential.
JOY ARNELL, Secretary General of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, Government of Sint Maarten, said gender equality was both a legal duty and a central pillar of Sint Maarten’s sustainable development. Since 2016, the State had advanced its efforts to address gender-based violence, discrimination and exploitation. In June 2025, it hosted the fifth “no mas, no more” conference, which advanced the implementation of the Istanbul Convention and produced island-specific action plans forming a pathway toward Kingdom-wide ratification by 2028. A coordinated awareness campaign focused on behavioural change was adopted, recognising the importance of transforming social norms to prevent violence.
Training for the Police Force of Sint Maarten had strengthened officers’ understanding of gender-based violence dynamics, contributing to more decisive first response actions. Monthly consultations with the Court of Guardianship supported earlier detection and safer interventions. The capacity of victim support services had also been expanded with a parental mediator trained in coercive control, offering specialised assistance to victims who shared custody with abusive partners.
Public outreach through radio programmes, community discussions, and educational screenings had raised awareness of gender-based violence and improved the quality of referrals. Progress was also being seen in combatting human trafficking, with increased awareness of the issue and the establishment of the National Reporting Centre. A major achievement was the development of Sint Maarten’s first Child Safety Code, a national framework for early detection, mandatory reporting, and coordinated protection of children.
Sint Maarten had also made continued progress in women’s political participation. Since 2010, the country had twice been led by female Prime Ministers, and women continued to hold key roles in Parliament and the Council of Ministers. The reestablished Women’s Caucus and participation in regional and international forums reflected the commitment to expanding women’s leadership. Sint Maarten remained committed to fully implementing the Child Safety Code, strengthening survivor-centred approaches, improving justice sector coordination, and advancing progress toward Istanbul Convention ratification. It would continue promoting equal access to health, education and economic opportunity, while addressing structural barriers that sustained gender disparities.
RICK LAWSON, Chairperson of the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights, said the issue of violence against women was high on the Government’s agenda, and several commendable steps had already been taken. The Government’s actions to prevent and combat sexual violence and sexually transgressive behaviour had increased significantly over the past three years. The new position of a National Coordinator on Violence against Women and Domestic Violence would streamline fragmented policies and responsibilities. However, much action remained necessary to tackle all forms of violence against women and to protect and support victims.
The Government did not take all necessary steps to achieve gender equality. Even 35 years after ratification, the Convention was not well-known to policy- and lawmakers, Government officials or within society. More knowledge could contribute to achieving gender equality. In the labour market, pregnancy discrimination constituted a persistent problem. The wage gap – though diminishing – continued to exist. The Government needed to take concrete and firm measures to eliminate these types of discrimination. The number of women in elected political organs also needed to increase, but the Government had so far not taken the necessary measures to eliminate obstacles and facilitate their participation.
The situation of women in the Caribbean Netherlands called for the Committee’s attention, as it differed significantly from that of women in the European part of the Kingdom. These women faced discrimination in the field of work and in access to benefits. Mr. Lawson welcomed that the equal treatment act entered into force on 1 January 2026 for the three islands, which gave the national human rights institution the competence to deal with alleged cases of discrimination on the ground of sex in various fields, such as the labour market.
The root causes of the issues facing the Netherlands lay within stereotypical views of the role of women in public and private life. Inequalities were of a structural nature. It was the Government’s responsibility to include a gender perspective in all policy areas, as required by the Convention.
Questions by Committee Experts
DAPHNA HACKER, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for the Netherlands, welcomed the holding of the dialogue after significant political instability in the State. She and other Experts expressed deep appreciation for the contributions of Dutch national Corinne Dettmeijer-Vermeulen, the Committee’s Vice-Chair. Ms. Hacker also acknowledged the Netherlands’ efforts to address gender inequality, including the recent decision to allow the national human rights institution to operate in the special municipalities, the 2023 combatting sexual violence and marital captivity act, important revisions in 2024 to the sexual offences act, and the very new law on the abortion pill.
Would the State party develop a national action plan on implementing Convention principles? Did it plan to expand the authority of the national human rights institution to assess Government actions? What measures were in place to address disparities in the implementation of the Convention in the Caribbean territories? What steps had been taken to raise awareness of the Convention and the Optional Protocol among judges, teachers and civil society? How was the State integrating an intersectional lens into all its activities? How did it assess the impact of recent legal aid reform on women’s access to justice?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the State party had taken policy measures to promote effective access to justice, including strengthened criminal legislation and prosecution policies on domestic violence and gender-based violence, strengthened police reporting, free legal assistance, operationalisation of the Ombudsperson, and structured cooperation with civil society to support victims. People with limited financial resources could qualify for State-funded legal assistance. The State party was conducting research into the vulnerability of lower-middle income earners in accessing legal aid, based on which it would develop new measures to support access to legal aid. In several cities in the Netherlands, there were legal clinics specifically for women, where women could receive legal advice regardless of their income. The Government was also expanding the general equal treatment act to include unilateral Government action, so citizens could submit complaints of discrimination to the national human rights institution.
The State party’s capacity to act was not unlimited, with rapidly changing Governments in recent years. It was also faced with substantial budget cuts, including a reduction in the number of civil servants working under gender equality by 24 per cent. Within these constraints, the State party continued to work to advance the rights and opportunities of all women and girls. The State party attached great importance to the Convention and based reforms to gender equality legislation last year on the Convention. In March 2023, the Policy Compass was launched as a central method of creating inclusive and responsive policies. Under the Compass, every department now had to test whether policies could have unintended consequences on gender groups.
The State party had taken steps to strengthen gender equality in the Caribbean Netherlands. In April last year, a policy plan for gender equality in this region was launched, and last December, an administrative agreement was formed on the prevention of violence against women, domestic violence and child abuse. The anti-discrimination act for the Caribbean Netherlands came into force on 1 January 2026, and the foundation of legal aid and equal treatment in the region was established in October 2025, which was mandated to provide free information and assistance in cases of discrimination, in order to improve access to justice for women.
Curaçao was continuously updating its legal framework in line with its international commitments. It had reformed criminal law provisions on domestic and sexual violence, trafficking in persons, victim protection, and procedural safeguards in the justice system.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert asked about the State party’s efforts to implement the Committee’s 2025 decision regarding a communication from 2020 related to barriers to a Dutch woman reverting to her previous name after divorce.
Another Committee Expert noted that the State party had made important efforts to mainstream gender equality in legislation and policies. What was being done to raise awareness about the Policy Compass among policymakers, and to conduct gender assessments in the Caribbean Netherlands? Gender-disaggregated data was not consistently available across the Kingdom. How would the State party improve data collection across the Kingdom, particularly related to vulnerable women?
The Netherlands had recently ended its commitment to a feminist foreign policy; why was this and what were the impacts of this decision? What was being done to fund women, peace and security policies? How was a gender perspective incorporated into all peace and security policies?
The revised funding mechanism for non-governmental organizations privileged programme and project funding over core funding, and there was reportedly an increasingly hostile environment for women human rights defenders. Mis- and disinformation often when unchallenged by Government agencies. How was the State party ensuring that public funding strengthened women’s organizations? What measures were in place to tackle hate speech?
The Committee welcomed that a 2022 law established a gender quota for supervisory boards of listed companies. How was the implementation of the law assessed and what were the sanctions for non-compliance? What were the obstacles to making use of temporary special measures, particularly in the Caribbean Netherlands?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Aruba recognised the importance of temporary special measures in increasing women’s representation. While no binding statutory quotas were in place, policy initiatives promoted women’s participation in leadership and decision-making in various sectors. Aruba was making progress in collecting relevant and timely data that would help to better monitor policy developments in this area.
Regarding the Committee’s 2025 decision on the 2020 communication related to the Netherlands, the Government had come to an initial agreement on a final settlement offer with the author. It was proposing the introduction of wider possibilities for changing surnames in countries of nationality recognised by the Netherlands and legal support for women seeking name changes after divorce.
The Netherlands’ Statistics Bureau published a gender equality monitor every two years, which included disaggregation by age, ethnicity, and level of education. It was making efforts to increase the representation of marginalised women in its data, including through distinctions between rural and urban women and data on women in the Caribbean Netherlands.
Women’s rights were an important pillar of the State party’s foreign policy, but due to budget and staffing constraints, these rights were no longer promoted under the banner of “feminist foreign policy”. However, the Netherlands actively promoted these rights through its foreign trade and development policies. Budgets for women’s rights had been reduced, but substantial funds remained available. Some 210 million euros would be provided over the next five years to encourage women’s entrepreneurship, combat violence against women, and support women human rights defenders and the women, peace and security agenda. The Government had also allocated 40 million euros over the next five years for women, peace and security programmes. Gender-based violence considerations were included in human rights risk assessments carried out as part of the State’s arms export control policy. Arms exports were refused when there was a clear risk of their impact on gender-based violence or other human rights violations.
Under the gender balance act, listed companies which had not yet achieved gender quotas needed to appoint a person of the underrepresented gender in the event of a vacancy. This measure applied to 5,000 large companies in the Netherlands. The State party followed up when these companies did not report their gender representation data. It was conducting a mid-term evaluation of the implementation of this act.
The State had formed a focus group involving representatives from civil society representing marginalised women, which it consulted with when developing policies. It was taking various actions to make non-governmental organizations more resilient, developing a guide on misinformation and implementing a policy on responding to the anti-gender movement. It promoted knowledge sharing amongst non-governmental organizations in this regard by convening dedicated meetings.
Curaçao was strengthening its data collection system for policy making and reporting. It pursued an integrated policy approach to gender equality. Gender mainstreaming was implemented through inter-ministerial structures.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert welcomed the State party’s commitment to implementing the Convention and its numerous initiatives to address stereotypes in education and the labour market. What impact had these had? The media act had not been effective in addressing persistent gender stereotyping and hate speech in the media; how would the State address these issues? What results had the “Resilient Governance” programme achieved in reducing online aggression against female politicians?
Reportedly, the State party lacked a coordinated approach to harmful practices and some religious leaders who promoted female genital mutilation went unprosecuted. When would the State party implement an effective central coordination system to prevent and combat all forms of violence against women? What steps had been taken to strengthen prevention of femicide and domestic violence? There were persistent gaps in police and justice responses to such violence. Had the 2024 sexual offence act led to increased reporting? How did the State party monitor and ensure effective enforcement of domestic exclusion orders and prevention of recidivism? Women were reportedly often excluded from shelters and some shelters required mandatory financial contributions from users. What was the State party doing to address these issues and increase shelter capacity?
DAPHNA HACKER, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for the Netherlands, asked about specialised services guaranteed to victims of trafficking in persons. Why had there recently been a decline in prosecution and sentencing in trafficking cases? How was the State party tackling trafficking outside of the sex industry? How many cases had prosecuted buyers of sex services who should have known that the victims were trafficked? What was being done to prevent trafficking in the Caribbean Netherlands, given reports of significant gaps regarding victim protection and data collection? Did the State party plan to reexamine its stand on decriminalising pimps? Was it contemplating banning the purchase of sex before the age of 18?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Netherlands actively combatted harmful stereotypes through education campaigns aimed at changing role expectations and promoting equal parenting. The Government monitored the representation of women in the media. Public broadcasters were subject to the Code of Journalistic Conduct and needed to adhere to its rules. The alliance “becoming who you are” worked to increase awareness of gender stereotypes in schools and eliminate their impact.
The Resilience Governance programme, which had been in place since 2018, set clear norms and implemented measures to prevent aggressions against women politicians. Evaluations of the programme found that political office holders felt well-protected by these measures.
The Government collaborated with the Turkish, Moroccan and refugee communities to counter discrimination against women in these communities. An action plan had been published on addressing online discrimination, including against Muslim women, and a high-level administrative consultation on Muslim discrimination was held every six months. The Ministry of Social Affairs had established a working group on inclusion, which would provide policy advice to the incoming cabinet.
The Netherlands had taken several steps to address harmful practices, including through targeted campaigns at international airports and influencer campaigns. Changemakers within indigenous communities were being mobilised to contribute to reducing the prevalence of harmful practices. Data collection on harmful practices was insufficient; the Government would work to address this.
The deadline for developing the national action plan on preventing and combatting gender-based violence against women was 2029 but the Government would work to develop it as soon as possible. The State party was also developing campaigns targeting coercive control and had strengthened training for professionals working on femicide and domestic violence. More cases of sexual violence had been reported in recent years; this could be due to the criminalisation of additional acts under the sexual offences act and increased public awareness of reporting mechanisms. There were specialised police officers working on cases of sexual violence and child abuse in all 10 districts. The sexual offences act had raised awareness of the issue and allocated additional resources to tackling it.
Perpetrators of domestic violence could be issued with a temporary domestic exclusion order of 10 days. Persons who failed to comply could receive a prison sentence. The Government was considering how to deploy the orders earlier and more effectively, and how to allow more parties to submit requests for such orders.
The State party had exerted efforts to raise awareness of trafficking in persons in the Caribbean Netherlands. Information campaigns were organised around the European Anti-Trafficking Day. The police service had a department focused on investigating cases of trafficking in persons, and several services were available to trafficking victims, including shelter, psychosocial support and legal services. There were specific shelters for women and girls who were victims of trafficking. The budget for shelters had been increased to 14 million euros per year in 2020. The State had established agreements with shelter operators to ensure that these funds would be used to increase the availability of shelters.
The new coalition would discuss the issue of decriminalisation of pimps further. The State party’s focus was on regulating the sex work industry, strengthening the social position of sex workers, and supporting workers who wished to leave the industry. The Netherlands was conducting research into the nature and size of the sex industry, the results of which would be released in 2027.
Trafficking in persons was criminalised under the Criminal Code in Curaçao and designated as a priority offence. Victims could receive temporary residence permits, protection from deportation, shelter and psychological support. There was a dedicated division within the Ministry of Justice that was advocating for stronger legal frameworks related to trafficking.
Aruba had implemented awareness raising campaigns and educational programmes to address harmful stereotypes and was collaborating with non-governmental organizations and educational institutions in this regard. It also criminalised trafficking in persons and the sexual exploitation of women under its Criminal Code. It had a specialised police unit that investigated trafficking cases, and since 2018, it had a national action plan against trafficking in persons and a task force in place to address the issue.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert highlighted positive developments in the State party, including the introduction of a statutory diversity quota in 2022 and progress in gender balance across public and private sectors. The State ranked fifth in the European Union gender equality index and, amazingly, women now held 42 per cent of parliamentary seats. However, women remained underrepresented in politics at all levels, and minority women faced risks of harassment and intimidation in online and public spaces. What measures were in place to ensure the diverse representation of women in decision-making across all territories of the State party? What steps had been taken to ensure the meaningful participation of women in diplomacy and politics? How was the State party addressing online discrimination and doxxing of women, including discriminatory practices by male candidates in the general elections last year?
Another Committee Expert said that the Netherlands had acceded to both United Nations conventions on statelessness and had implemented a statelessness determination process from 2023. However, stateless persons were at risk of facing immigration detention in the State party and unmarried Dutch fathers and foreign mothers faced barriers in registering their children. Afghan women had reported restrictions in obtaining their residency rights. Did the Government plan to criminalise undocumented migrants? The cost for applying for Dutch citizenship was high; would the State party reduce this? How was the State party supporting family reunification for asylum seekers? What naturalisation measures were available in the Caribbean territories?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said women in Aruba had increasingly taken up leadership positions in government, civil society and other public sectors. The State had welcomed its first female chairperson in parliament and its first woman Prime Minister, and the share of seats held by women had increased between 2001 and 2017. Some 37 per cent of political candidates in the most recent election were women. Women were increasingly taking up roles in civil society organizations. Aruba promoted public dialogue on gender issues, and training and capacity building programmes sought to strengthen women’s leadership skills and political engagement.
There was only one woman currently in the Parliament of Curaçao and there were gaps to achieving gender parity in legislative and executive branches. Sustained efforts were required to strengthen pathways for women politicians. Curaçao was moving forward in this regard. There was a legal pathway through which long-term lawful residents of Curaçao could acquire Dutch nationality.
The Netherlands continuously monitored gender balances and promoted equal representation of women in international bodies. The State party had worked to improve maternal leave arrangements for female politicians. The Alliance Politica was promoting sustainable and equal representation of women in Dutch politics, improvement of data analysis on political participation, and tackling of online hate against politicians, which was also addressed by the Resilience Governance network. In 2025, the Ministry of Interior called on Parliament to implement the Convention more effectively, including through the introduction of gender quotas for candidates and sanctions for abuse of women politicians.
Hate speech was punishable under the Dutch Criminal Code. Slander, insults and threats could be defined under this law as hate speech. Online platforms had an obligation to remove content determined to be hate speech. The State was also implementing an action plan against online discrimination, racism and hate speech.
An amendment was introduced to the emergency measures bill last year that would criminalise the irregular stay of persons without legal residency. This amendment was still being debated in Parliament. The Afghan women mentioned by the Committee who had previously not been granted residency permits had now been granted them, considering the circumstances of their individual cases.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert welcomed progress made in the field of education. However, women and girls continued to be underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and maths programmes. How would the State party ensure that gender segregation in education was addressed? The Committee welcomed that as of 2020, students in vocational education benefitted from maternity leave. What measures were in place to ensure that all pregnant students had access to the same maternity benefits, regardless of their university and field of study? Lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex women faced discrimination and bullying. What steps had been taken to guarantee structural attention to diverse sexual orientation and gender identity in education? The lack of girls in secondary and tertiary education was concerning; what programmes addressed this? What temporary special measures were being developed in Curaçao to encourage girls to pursue non-traditional studies?
Another Committee Expert welcomed the measures taken by the Government promoting women’s employment. In the Netherlands, only 31 per cent of women worked full-time, compared to 71 per cent of men. A 2020 found that three-quarters of women who had given birth in the previous four years had experienced pregnancy-related discrimination. Women received on average 40 per cent less in benefits from pension schemes than men. Marginalised women faced severe challenges in accessing employment and social benefits. What were the reasons for the persistent gender pay gap? What measures were in place to ensure equal opportunities for women in the labour market? How would the State party curb pregnancy-related employment discrimination? How would it prevent discrimination against fathers who took paternity leave? What measures were in place to address workplace sexual harassment? How would the State narrow the gender gap in pension benefits and promote equal labour and social security benefits for marginalised women?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Aruba guaranteed equal access to education for women and men at all levels. Female participation rates in secondary and tertiary education were high. There were targeted programmes in science, technology, engineering and maths fields, and counselling in schools helped to prevent dropouts related to early pregnancy and health-related barriers. Aruba was also encouraging women and girls to participate in military training programmes.
The Netherlands had various education programmes promoting girls’ participation, including the strong technical education programme, which encouraged girls to study science, technology, engineering and maths subjects. Schools were legally obliged to ensure safe school environments for all students. An annual day of discussion on sexual orientation and gender identity was organised by the State party, and the State advised schools on creating a safe environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex students. New legislation allowed students to be absent for 16 weeks due to pregnancy and childbirth and implemented study funds for students who fell pregnant.
Curaçao ensured equal access to education for women and girls at all levels, including higher education, vocational training and sports. Girls completed secondary education at rates equal to or higher than boys. Career guidance programmes encouraged women and girls to pursue careers in engineering and technical professions and study financing was available for girls in these fields.
Aruba had a lower female labour force participation rate; women were better educated than men but were paid less. The Aruba Government was prioritising policies including mandatory wage reviews and flexible working arrangements to support higher labour force participation for women. A family friendly workplace programme was also being implemented to support women with children to return to work. The Bureau of Women’s Affairs had introduced programmes to support women’s entrepreneurship, professional training and access to finance. Elderly women who reached pension age were allowed to continue working, provided that the employer and employee agreed to improve their income security.
The Netherlands had raised leave compensation to 70 per cent of the average daily wage, and the State aimed for near free childcare for working parents by 2029 through reform of funding to the childcare sector. Child benefits had been increased in recent years. The difference in average hourly pay between men and women was currently 10.5 per cent; it had decreased in recent years in the public sector particularly. Pay transparency measures were being implemented to equalise pay levels for all groups, including marginalised women. Employees had the right to take the leave they were entitled to and could lodge complaints if they were prevented from doing so. Anyone who lived and worked in the Netherlands was automatically eligible for the State pension once they reached retirement age.
Efforts were being made to tackle pregnancy discrimination. The State party was providing employees and employers with information about this form of discrimination and avenues where employees could seek advice regarding this discrimination. There was a national action plan in place on tackling sexually transgressive behaviour in the workplace. Employers were required to implement measures to ensure a safe working environment and respectful interaction among employees. The Dutch Civil Code contained a prohibition of workplace sexual harassment.
Curaçao had made progress in promoting women’s participation in the labour market. The Government conducted inspections to prevent discrimination in workplaces. The Civil Code of Curaçao included guaranteed leave entitlements and workplace protection. When these rights were not respected, women had access to legal aid and could seek redress in the courts. There was no gender gap in pension benefits in Curaçao, which had recently been increased.
Women in Sint Maarten participated widely in the labour market and were legally protected from discrimination in hiring, pay and working conditions. Maternity protection and social security were in place. The Government continued to address gaps in workforce data, job security and economic empowerment. It had also developed awareness raising campaigns to prevent workplace discrimination against women. Women who were discriminated against in the workplace could file complaints with the Ombudsperson and Victims Support Services.
Questions by Committee Experts
One Committee Expert asked how the State party was improving health care for older women and migrants and ensuring a gender approach in health policies. How did the State party address maternal and infant deaths in the Caribbean Netherlands? How had the State party ensured that contraception, abortion and sex education were equally available in all territories? The number of HIV/AIDS cases had increased in the Caribbean Netherlands in recent years; how was this being addressed? The involuntary care and treatment act of 2020 made it possible to force women to use contraception. What safeguards were in place to prevent coercion? The suicide rate for young women was much higher than that of young men. What measures were in place to reduce the suicide rate? What was being done to prohibit involuntary surgeries against intersex persons?
Another Committee Expert said that persistent structural inequalities continued to undermine women’s economic security in the Netherlands, particularly for single mothers, migrant women and other vulnerable groups. Would the State party develop new instruments to better understand the living conditions of people in poverty, particularly in the Caribbean Netherlands? Had all victims of the childcare benefits scandal been provided with full redress? What was the State party doing to integrate a gender and lesbian, bisexual and transgender perspective into homelessness prevention and responses? The Expert commended the State party on its work to increase women’s participation in sport. How effective had these measures been? How was the State party preventing discrimination against women in sport?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said women in Aruba had access to universal health care, including sexual and reproductive health care. HIV prevalence had increased in recent years due to an increase in the virus amongst men. Aruba sought to ensure that undocumented and vulnerable groups could access essential healthcare services.
In the Netherlands, an action plan on women’s health was being developed, which would include measures to address women-specific conditions and improve health care and support for women. The Netherlands placed great value on high quality and accessible abortion care. In recent years, several legislative amendments had been made to make abortion care more accessible. Since 2025, general practitioners were authorised to prescribe medication for early medical abortion up to nine weeks of gestation. There had been 142 pregnancy terminations in the Caribbean Netherlands between 2020 and 2024. On all islands, contraceptives were offered anonymously, supported by targeted campaigns. A telephone and chat service operated by the National Information Centre on Unintended Pregnancy was available across the Caribbean Netherlands. The State party was also working on strengthening infrastructure and access to mental health care across the Kingdom.
Forced sterilisation was never permissible. Mandatory contraception could be permitted as a temporary, reversible measure to prevent serious harm to women. Possible cases of forced sterilisation of persons with disabilities were currently being investigated. A medical guideline was being developed to ensure intersex babies and children received proper care when deemed necessary. Policies were being developed that would contribute to promoting intersex persons’ right to bodily autonomy. Measures were also underway to improve the accessibility and quality of care for transgender persons.
Curaçao worked to ensure that women had access to pregnancy and maternity care. Women received necessary care during pregnancy, childbirth and medical emergencies. The Curaçao Government covered the full cost of healthcare for uninsured migrant women related to childbirth. Access to abortion remained restricted except under specific conditions. Policies aimed to reduce adolescent pregnancy and improve prenatal and postnatal care for all women.
Abortion was illegal in Sint Maarten except when the pregnancy threatened the life of the woman. Discussions were ongoing to review and amend the Penal Code to decriminalise abortion and ensure access to safe reproductive health services.
Initial compensation had been paid to all victims of the childcare benefits scandal, and further payments were being settled.
Several measures were being implemented to address transgressive behaviour in sports. A campaign was underway that encouraged men in the sports sector to report inappropriate behaviour towards women.
Women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons were at a higher risk of becoming homeless. The Government promoted access to safe and accessible housing and shelter for persons fleeing abuse.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said the national programme for rural areas did not incorporate specific measures for women. How would a gender focus be incorporated? What measures would the State party take to tackle precarious labour conditions affecting transgender and bisexual women? To what extent were hate crimes against these women prosecuted? What policies were in place to protect the labour rights of migrant women in the informal sector?
How did the State party ensure a gender focus in asylum procedures and ensure the privacy and protection of women and girls in asylum processing centres? The Committee was concerned by persistent reports of harassment and sexual violence in the penitentiary system. Many women deprived for freedom had been victims of violence and almost half had a psychosocial disability. How was this addressed?
Another Committee Expert said the State party had a solid legal framework in terms of family rights, but there were structural gaps affecting the rights of women. What measures were in place to establish obligatory evaluation of domestic violence in all custody cases? Many women in non-registered unions faced serious disadvantages in seeking alimony. How was this being addressed? How did the State protect women and girls from reprisals when they sought to end marriages? Could divorced women recover their maiden names free of charge?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that since 2021, the Dutch Government had invested significantly in depopulated areas, including subsidies to maintain vital bus lines, schools and regional hospitals. These initiatives stabilised access to services, reduced outmigration, and boosted local employment for women.
The equal opportunities action plan sought to tackle discrimination against transgender persons. The State party was monitoring this discrimination and had implemented a project that promoted the inclusion of bisexual people at work. Recently, the Government had published a comprehensive plan to combat violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons.
In the case of femicide, child protection services stepped in to protect children and in almost all cases, the parental authority of the offender was revoked. No special protocol applied concerning non-fatal violence, but judges always carefully weighed arguments and evidence, considering the best interests of the child.
The rights of women in detention in the Netherlands were safeguarded not only through national legislation but also through international human rights agreements and a system of independent monitoring mechanisms. Measures had been taken to reduce barriers for women to report misconduct and improve the provision of information to incarcerated women. Mandatory training had been developed for staff working with incarcerated women. The Custodial Service was working to redesign the detention system for young adult women, considering the perspectives of former female prisoners.
There were focal points in asylum shelters that provided support and guidance to vulnerable persons. It was possible to file asylum claims based on claims of domestic violence and trafficking in persons.
Concluding Remarks
MERVIN WYATT-RAS, Minister of Public Health, Social Affairs, Elderly Care and Addiction Care, Government of Aruba, thanked the Committee for the dialogue. The delegation had attempted to give detailed and structured responses to the Committee’s questions. The State party thanked all non-governmental organizations and the national human rights institution for their contributions to the dialogue. The Kingdom of the Netherlands reiterated its firm commitment to the promotion and protection of women’s rights.
NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chair, said that the dialogue had shed light on the complex situation of women and girls in the Kingdom. The Committee commended the State party on its efforts and encouraged it to take all necessary measures to address the Committee’s various recommendations for the benefit of all women and girls in the country.
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CEDAW26.006E