Governments sign ’13+’ cooperation agreement

On 8 December 2021, the cooperation agreement 13+ was signed by the Public Entities in the Caribbean Netherlands and 5 departments of the Central Government. With this, the various governmental parties agree to further cooperate when it comes to young people between the ages of 13 and 23 in the Caribbean Netherlands. With cooperation on important themes for youth, the partners want to optimally support the development of adolescents and young adults of the three Caribbean islands.

The parties will cooperate on the following topics: housing for teenagers and young adults, leisure and development activities, poverty alleviation, youth participation, domestic violence, child abuse, education and employment.

This collaboration between the Public Entities and the Central Government came about as a result of the findings from the research report ‘It doesn’t matter where your cradle stood’ by the National Ombudsman and the Children’s Ombudsman. In this report, the ombudsmen wrote that it is important to make policy in which all different organisations are involved.

The Children’s Ombudsman, Margrite Kalverboer says about the cooperation agreement 13+: “To really improve the perspective of children and young people, integrated work is a precondition. This cooperation is a wonderful example that also deserves to be followed in other places in our Kingdom.”

Alongside the Public Entities of Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius, the following Central Government Ministries signed the cooperation agreement 13+: the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, the Ministry of Justice and Security, and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.

The Daily Herald.