PHILIPSBURG:--- This morning, Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling welcomed a delegation from the Council of Europe, marking the start of the delegation’s two-day working visit to Sint Maarten.
The delegation includes Clare Ovey, Director of Human Rights, Directorate General Human Rights and Rule of Law; Clare Brown, Head of Division, Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights; Babette Koopman, Agent to the European Court of Human Rights for the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; and Fay Keeris, Legal Advisor at the Permanent Representation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Council of Europe.
The visit forms part of a wider mission to Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten and provides an opportunity to engage directly on matters related to the execution of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, including the Corallo and Murray cases, while also exploring opportunities for strengthened cooperation between Sint Maarten and the Council of Europe.
During this morning’s meeting, Minister Tackling and the delegation discussed Sint Maarten’s ongoing work and priorities, the importance of continued engagement on human rights and the rule of law, and opportunities to build on the expertise and mechanisms available through the Council of Europe.
While detention-related matters form part of the mission, the Council of Europe’s work extends across a much broader range of areas relevant to Sint Maarten, including combating violence against women and domestic violence, democracy, the rule of law, and emerging issues surrounding privacy, data protection and artificial intelligence.
During the visit to Sint Maarten, the delegation will participate in a series of engagements with key institutions and stakeholders, including discussions at the Point Blanche Prison and meetings with the Governor of Sint Maarten and Parliament’s Justice Committee. These engagements will provide opportunities for direct exchange on human rights, ongoing developments and areas for continued cooperation.