News item | 07-10-2025 | 14:13
On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, the Senate approved the introduction of the equal treatment legislation on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. This definitively adopts the Protection Act Protection against Discrimination on these Islands.
On the basis of Article 1 of the Constitution, various laws apply in the European Netherlands that guarantee equal treatment. On Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, these laws have not applied so far. With the new law this difference is removed: legislation that provides protection against discrimination will soon apply to the whole of the Netherlands.
Previously, research showed that the equal treatment legislation is important for the inhabitants of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. Now that the law has been passed, residents can soon appeal to the law if they feel discriminated against, for example because of their origin, religion, gender or sexual preference. For this they get access to an anti -discrimination provision (ADV), which is housed at the counter for free legal aid that is being prepared on every island. People with knowledge of the law will soon work there who register reports from citizens about experienced discrimination, offer a listening ear and determine the possible follow -up together with the reporter.
With this legislation, the Commission for Human Rights is also given a new judgmental task on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. This means that citizens can submit a request to the Commission to assess whether there is discrimination in their situation.
Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations: “With this law, all residents of our country get the same protection against discrimination. And not only on paper, because thanks to the counters that are opened, people on the islands get direct help and support. That is important: no one can be excluded or treated unevenly.”
The official entry into force of the law is intended before January 1, 2026.
For more information about the legislation see The corresponding parliamentary papers.