I thought America was different...

Until a parent of an abused child sent me this link:


http://vimeo.com/19259757   

A video from Gerland  Waller.


                                          


Many Family Courts are siding with the abusers

"Experts estimate that that more than 58 000 are ordered by family courts into unsupervised contact with sexually and physically abusing parents".

Same story as in Aruba??

Is the world at war with our children? We need an international network to save the children!

Thanks to AD the Dutch government wants to investigate Demmink

Minister Ivo Opstelten van Veiligheid en Justitie moet in een brief opheldering geven over zijn hoogste ambtenaar, Joris Demmink. Dat willen Kamerleden van VVD, PvdA, SP, CDA en 50Plus naar aanleiding van getuigenissen in het AD over contacten van de Justitietopman met een pooier van minderjarige jongens.

Minister of justice  I. Opstelten is asked to react

on the Demmink case by the diffrent Dutch Party's

VVD, PvdA, SP, CDA en 50Plus !

PVV-Europarlementariër Lucas Hartong gaat een flinke stap verder. Hij eist 'een onafhankelijk en diepgaand onderzoek en heeft een commissie van het Europees Parlement gevraagd de zaak-Demmink op de agenda te zetten.

PVV-Europe parlementarian Lucas Hartong demands a full investigation and asks the European Parliament to put the case Demmink on the agenda.

AD shows courage investigating Dutch top official suspected of abuse and sex traffic of minors.

The  newspaper AD (Algemeen Dagblad) in the Nederlands has the courage to publish on the 6th of October 2012 about Joris Demmink, top official in the Nerherlands who has planned to resign this month. Since 2003 Demmink  is strongly suspected of sexual abuse of boys  but apparently has held the Dutch justice system in his iron grip til now. During his office time he appointed many prosecutors. I can imagine them to be heavily influenced by  Demmink. Let's hope justice will finally prevail and that the victims of childabuse will have more rights in the future as well in The Netherlands,  the  Dutch  Carribean and Aruba (status aparte) which still has a mainly Dutch Public Ministry and Court.

I admire the fact that AD has been actively searching for wittnesses who can testify that Joris Demmink is  involved in abuse and sex trafficing of minors. Formerly other newspapers have been  threatened by the powerful top official. I wish  the journalists and the editors of AD succes !

Does a pedophyle network rule the Netherlands and Aruba?

Two months ago the Dutch newspaper Amigoe on Aruba promised me for the 3th time an interview. This 3th time I had  intensive e-mail contact with the editor of the Amigoe. She promised me to publish my blog  so the people of Aruba could react and tell their stories anonymously. Suddenly the contact stopped. My blog was never published and got, as you see, no comments. What happened to the enthusiastic editor??
In the Nerherlands I am fighting for my book to get proper publicity. People love reading my book, but few newspapers have the guts to publish on the content. The newspaper De Stentor was very courageous and published a big interview. But many other newspapers choose to ignore my book and the rightless children on Aruba: 
Het Tijdschrift Kindermishandeling TKM ( Paper specialized on Childabuse!) never published my interview with freelance journalist Ditty Eimers. I told TKM beginning 2011 what happened on Aruba but got no reaction. TKM is connected to Unicef.nl. Unicef knows my book and they know what happens on Aruba but they keep their stories about the Dutch Antilles nice and palatable, speaking about poverty, drugs and teenage mothers. Nobody seems to want to help the children of Aruba who have no rights, many of them victims of sexual abuse and exploitation.  During my work as a child psychiatrist on Aruba I saw that the police and officials are either corrupt or scared. I had the distinct feeling that something was rotten at the top, not only in Aruba but also in the Netherlands. Today the father of a patient of mine brought me this article in AD published the 24th of August:

Angry Americans indicate that their is ungoing evidence that Joris Demmink, the highest  court judge in the Netherlands is accused of abusing young boys. This is the rotten top I felt working in the field of Aruba. Joris Demmink is probably just one of them. How can we get rid of this strangling pedophile network?

The first step is publicity and international pressure. It is an outrage that people who could do the right thing look away and allow these things to happen!

Reactions from Aruban readers

Bon dia Aruba! And the rest of the World! Click on the title to post a comment. Rita and the people supporting her want to invite you to write comments on  this blog on the issue child abuse  and children rights on Aruba as well as comments on the book "Boa, Aruba in the Stranglehold" You can also give personal experiences. You can post them anonymous or with name. Godfried Wanga Beth Rafa Foundation has read Boa and  given his full approval. Looking foreward to hear from you in Dutch, English, Papiamento or Spanish! Iedereen is welkom om op deze blog commentaar te geven over de rechten van het kind op Aruba en  "Boa, Aruba in de Wurggreep!" It doesn't matter how old you are. Het maakt niet uit hoe oud je bent . No importa la edad tuya. 16 Juli 2012  I read your book, outstanding, sublime. Many put their heads in the sand and give negative comments. But the truth always hurts. Those who are involved maintain  an ostrich policy. I know how the young are  treated.  I scream and am not heard. It's a fight against those who abuse their power and cover up their crimes. What can we do here on Aruba to help our children?  Edith Kervezee
Ik heb je boek gelezen uitstekend subliem. Velen hier steken hun kop in het zand en geef negatieve commentaar. Maar de waarheid doet altijd pijn. Wie ermee te maken hebben spelen stuisvogel. Ik weet hoe de jongeren behandeld worden en geschreewd ik ben nog steeds bezig om gehoor te krijgen maar is vechten tegen mensen die misbruik maken van hun macht en waar alles in de doof pot gaat. Wat kunnen wij hier op Aruba doen voor onze jongeren? Edith Kervezee

Reactions from international readers

 

Foreword Boa

Boa can be bought at www.schrijverijmooimens.nl  Dutch version

Oh island in the sun, pleasure ground for swimmers and sunbathers. That’s how Aruba presents itself to the unsuspecting tourist. Anyone who reads this book by Rita Zecher, gets a different picture. Behind the front door reigns violence. The body damaged, the mind destroyed and murdering to the soul.
The author is giving with this book a personal and powerful signal. It is an understatement  to say that something in Aruba is fishy. Boa hits you  like a punch ball.

It is easy to write from The Netherlands about an island far away.

Nevertheless, the argument remains that the children in Aruba have rights. They should be confident that adults will protect them and not damage. And adults should take their responsibility in it, especially when as medical doctors, guardians, police officers and teachers they have chosen a profession which implies taking care of children and protecting them.

What struck me most in Boa is the lack of responsibility. The responsibility is passed on the victims. The girls who are raped or sexually assaulted, are 'seductive' or called 'willing', 'possessed by devils’. As an adult you should  think three times when a girl is presenting herself in a willing and seductive way. Firstly, it is a not age-appropriate behavior that may signal sexual violence. Secondly, it is certainly never an excuse to have intercourse with the child. The described  reluctance to  face and resolve the damage caused by primary and secondary traumatisation,  will be repugnant to the reader. Don’t put the book away, you will learn from it.
Rita Zecher is brave, because how easy is it to criticize and burn her  personally, distracting that way from her accusation. This must not happen. She rings an  emergency bell which should be heard.  People - the Children's Ombudsman first? – shouldn’t hide their heads in the sand and forget that  in Aruba abuse prevails, needing a  bold approach. That the government of Aruba may take the lead and be the first to end this misery. Only then Aruba can become a truly idyllic spot in the real sense of the word. Now something rancid is smelling under the sun.

In name of the Dutch organization RAAK against child abuse

Th.Heyman (director) and H. Diderich

translated from the original Dutch version:

 

Voorwoord  Boa

Oh island in the sun, lustoord voor zwemmers en zonaanbidders. Zo toont Aruba zich aan de argeloze toerist. Wie dit boek van Rita Zecher leest, krijgt een ander beeld. Achter de voordeur heerst geweld. Het lichaam beschadigend, de geest vernietigend en moordend voor de ziel.

De auteur geeft met dit boek een persoonlijk en krachtig signaal af. Het is te lichtvaardig uitgedrukt om te stellen dat het op Aruba niet pluis is. Boa komt eerder aan als een boksbal dan een pluisje.

Het is vanuit Nederland makkelijk schrijven over een eiland ver weg. Desalniettemin blijft de stelling overeind dat ook de kinderen op Aruba rechten hebben. Zij moeten erop kunnen vertrouwen dat volwassenen hen beschermen en niet beschadigen. En volwassenen moeten hun verantwoordelijkheid daarin nemen; zeker wanneer zij als artsen, voogden, politiemensen en docenten van kinderbescherming en -verzorging hun beroep gemaakt hebben.

Wat mij het meest trof in Boa is het gebrek aan verantwoordelijkheidsbesef. De verantwoordelijkheid wordt op slachtoffers afgewenteld. De meisjes die verkracht of seksueel gemolesteerd worden, worden ‘verleidelijk’ genoemd of ‘gewillig’, ‘door duivels bezeten’. Als volwassene zou men drie keer na moeten denken wanneer een meisje zich gewillig en verleidelijk toont. Ten eerste is het niet leeftijdsovereenkomstig gedrag dat signaal kan zijn van seksueel geweld. Ten tweede is het in ieder geval nooit een excuus om zelf gemeenschap te hebben met het kind.

De beschreven onwil om de schade, veroorzaakt door primaire en secundaire traumatisering, onder ogen te zien en te verhelpen, zal de lezer tegen de borst stuiten. Legt u het boek niet weg, u leert ervan.

Rita Zecher is moedig, want hoe makkelijk is het om haar straks persoonlijk af te branden en daarmee de aandacht van haar aanklacht af te leiden. Dat mag niet gebeuren. Zij luidt een noodklok en die moet gehoord worden. Men – de Kinderombudsman voorop ? – mag niet de kop in het zand steken dat op Aruba een misstand heerst die een doortastende aanpak vergt.  Dat de bestuurders van Aruba het voortouw mogen nemen en zich een boegbeeld mogen tonen om deze wantoestand te beëindigen. Pas dan kan Aruba een echt lustoord worden in de ware zin van het woord. Nu smelt er iets ranzigs onder de zon.

Namens RAAK, 

Th. Heyman (voorzitter a.i.) en H. Diderich

Review Boa

Oh island in the sun,  writes Th. Heyman (President of RAAK)  in his preface and already my heart beats  faster. I 've visited the island 3 years in a row from 2009 and the next trip in 2012 is already planned. I love the island, which I don’t visit  like tourists do, staying  in a hotel, but living with  friends of mine and their 4 dogs,  which is why I am familiar with the  "inconveniences" of a tropical island,  such as: a  ‘Choller' ( homeless guy)  at  your gate, power cuts, washing my cloths and cooking in an overheated kitchen.

Th. Heyman is definitely not an Aruba-fan, and after reading the book and a personal chat with him I understand his position. The Aruban government has absolutely no sense of responsibility towards the sexually abused children. This responsibility is put on the victims themselves! "There is something rancid  smelling under the sun" , says Th. Heyman. And with this chocking intro I started reading the book.

What struck me immediately is that the story not only about child abuse happening on Aruba. I read about a single mother who packed her bags to and go live in Aruba, with all the inconveniences such an emigration entails:  make contacts, getting permits, looking for schools. I am an Aruba lover and  when Rita writes about certain sites,  places and beaches in Aruba I knew exactly how she felt. Yet I noticed that where she often finds the island barren and dry, I do enjoy this form of nature, tastes differ.

The book is not only a powerless political fight against child abuse, the book is
also largely a non-fiction novel and I read about girlfriends, men, parties, and the dogs of Rita and her friend which fights for Animal Rights Aruba. About the suffering that some dogs have to endure and what awaits them when they are pushed through the valve. I  found the variation around the abuse and the domestic stuff a welcome element in BOA. Of course I was also very moved and outraged. The impotence  Rita must have felt when nobody listened to her or the abused children. I, as an abused child, know how good it feels when somebody believes your story. I think the book can easily be read by abused, meanwhile adult readers, who mostly want to avoid books on this subject. There are not too many painful stories and details are left out, probably partly due to medical confidentiality, but just because this has not been done  it makes the book strong.

Oh island in the sun. During my next Aruba-trip I will look with other eyes at St. Cruz where I stay,  where during generations incest is being committed. Since I read BOA I look at Aruba from another angel and have to conclude that, unfortunately also this idyllic little place on earth has its nasty, dirty sides. Something rancid is smelling under the sun.

Angélique Kersten, author and owner of aquaZZ Publishing

Translated from the Dutch version:

Recensie Boa

Oh Island in the sun, schrijft Th. Heyman (voorzitter van RAAK) in zijn voorwoord en meteen al klopt mijn hart een paar slagen sneller. Zelf bezocht ik het eiland 3 jaar achter elkaar vanaf 2009 en de volgende trip in 2012 staat weer gepland. Ik hou van het eiland, waar ik overigens niet als toerist in een hotel logeer, maar bij vrienden en hun 4 honden thuis en ben ik ook bekend met de 'ongemakken' die een tropisch eiland kent, zoals: een 'choller' (zwerver) aan je hek, stroomuitval. En ook doe ik daar gewoon mijn was en kook in een overhitte keuken.
Th. Heyman is allesbehalve Aruba-fan, en na lezing van het boek en een persoonlijk onderonsje begrijp ik zijn standpunt. De Arubaanse overheid kent totaal geen verantwoordelijkheidsbesef richting de seksueel misbruikte Arubaanse kinderen. Deze verantwoordelijkheid wordt op de slachtoffers zelf afgewenteld! 'Er smelt iets ranzigs onder de zon', stelt Th. Heyman. En met deze klapper van een zin begon ik aan het boek.
Wat me meteen opviel is dat het verhaal niet alleen over kindermisbruik op Aruba gaat. Ik las over een alleenstaande moeder die haar spullen pakt en op Aruba gaat wonen, met alle ongemakken van dien, die zo'n emigratie met zich meebrengt. Contacten leggen, vergunningen aanvragen, scholen uitzoeken. Ik, als Arubaliefhebster leefde me helemaal in wanneer Rita schrijft over bepaalde plekken, plaatsen en stranden op Aruba. Toch bemerkte ik ook dat waar zij het eiland dor en droog vindt, ik zelf geniet van die natuurvorm, smaken verschillen nu eenmaal. Het boek blijkt niet enkel een machteloos, politiek gevecht jegens kindermisbruik, het boek is voor een groot deel ook een non-fictie roman en las ik over vriendinnen, mannen, feestjes, en over de honden van Rita en haar vriendin die zich inzet voor Animal Rights Aruba. Over het leed dat sommige honden daar wordt aangedaan en welk lot hen te wachten staat wanneer ze door de 'klep' heen gaan. Ik vond de afwisseling rond het misbruik en de huiselijke dingen een welkom element in BOA. Uiteraard heb ik me ook lopen opwinden. Over de onmacht die Rita gevoeld moet hebben wanneer er niet naar haar en de misbruikte kinderen werd geluisterd. Ik, als misbruikt kind weet maar al te goed hoe fijn het is als
men jouw verhaal geloofd. Het boek kan naar mijn idee ook goed gelezen worden door misbruikte, inmiddels volwassen, kinderen die eigenlijk boeken met deze inhoud willen weren. Er worden niet al teveel pijnlijke verhalen in details blootgelegd, waarschijnlijk mede door het beroepsgeheim, maar júist doordat dat niet gedaan is, maakt het het boek sterk.
Oh island in the sun. Tijdens mijn volgende Aruba-trip zal ik met andere ogen kijken naar St. Cruz, waar ik logeer, waar ook blijkt dat generaties lang incest wordt gepleegd. Met BOA gelezen te hebben zie ik Aruba nu ook vanuit een andere hoek en moet helaas concluderen dat dus ook dit idyllische plekje op aarde nare, vuile kanten kent Er smelt iets ranzigs onder de zon

 Angélique Kersten, auteur en eigenaar van Uitgeverij aquaZZ

More reactions from readers:

The book is to me a feast of recognition because it describes in detail the small society in all its aspects. In respect to the subject the story shows that victims can become perpetrators and that this is the reason why it is so difficult to change the system. The Netherlands should not be allowed to abandon the islands like orphans and to judge them at the same time. The development of  decisiveness and manpower is essential.

The Netherlands, June 28, 2012 

Het boek is voor mij een 'feest' van herkenning omdat het tot detailniveau zo goed de kleinschalige samenleving in al haar facetten schetst.
Ten aanzien van het onderwerp laat het verhaal zien dat slachtoffers later daders worden en dat het daarom moeilijk is een systeem te wijzigen.
Nederland mag de eilanden niet verweesd achterlaten en tegelijkertijd veroordelen. Ontwikkeling van daadkracht en menskracht is essentieel.

Nederland, 28 juni 2012

It is the type of book which half way through, you regret that it will end soon. Your descriptions are each to the point and recognizable, weather it is about clients, care takers, men or stray dogs. I cried and I laughed; Thanks! 
The Netherlands June 25, 2012


Het is het type boek waarvan je halverwege het al betreurt dat het straks uit is.
Je beschrijvingen zijn stuk voor stuk treffend en herkenbaar, of het nou gaat over de klanten, hulpverleners, mannen of zwerfhonden. Ik heb gehuild en gelachen; bedankt daarvoor!
Nederland, 25juni , 2012

I read your book. Beautiful is not the right word here...I was surprised, touched, chocked... I hope the situation will change soon there and that the children will get back their own voice !

The Netherlands June 5, 2012

Ik heb je boek gelezen. Mooi is niet het juiste woord hier... Ik ben verbaasd geweest, ontroerd, geschokt.... Ik hoop dat de situatie daar snel zal veranderen en kinderen weer een eigen stem krijgen!

Nederland 5 juni 2012

Congratulations, finally there is a light at the horizon, be assured that we back you a 100% ! It is about time that the truth comes into the light and that the victims will get peace and be freed of those monsters! 

Foundation Teen Challenge Aruba , March, 10 2012

 

Gefeliciteerd, eindelijk er komt een licht in de horizon, en weet zeker dat we zullen 100% achter jouw staan! Het is tijd, dat de waarheid komt in het licht en de slachtoffers kunnen rust en bevrijding krijgen van hun ziel, van deze monsters!!!" 

Stichting Teen Challenge Aruba, 10 maart 2010

 

As a director of an international human rights organization  active on Aruba and which was blacklisted a couple of years ago to prevent us from informing Nils Kastberg,  UNICEF reporter, OF ALL THINGS about the central theme of Rita's book, I support her criticisms one 100%. What happens on Aruba defies every Dutch standard of decency and is a shame for the kingdom of the Netherlands.It is a about time for an independant  investigation of the thruth by UNICEF and others to investigate the complaints about the police, the justice department and public prosecution to the bottom.

Milton Ponson

Rainbow Warriors Aruba

Aruba, March 2012

 

 

Except that she generalizes a lot about the Aruban people, whereas the majority of her colleagues were Europeans, I agree fully with her!

Aruba, March 5, 2012 

 

Behalve dat ze veel generaliseert over Arubanen terwijl haar werkkring grotendeels uit Europeanen bestond, ben ik volledig met haar eens

Aruba, 5 maart 2012

Reaction of Aruban Parlement

 

Mrs Désirée Croes, member of the Aruban parlement, has read my book and taken the time to mail me everything the government has done since I left the island, end 2010:
 

1.       Introduction "Dutch national meldcode"(Dutch code to report child abuse). Status: almost done

2.     Implementation of protocols to combat domestic violence and child abuse. Status: ongoing 

3.       Project  Good parenting. Status: ongoing

4.       Triple P, Positief pedagogisch Programma. Status: has started

5.       Tienda di educacion (education shop). Status: ungoing

6.       Project Teen preganancies  Status: ungoing

7.      Child Care Center Imelda Hof  open on weekends :  Status: done

8.       Raise of age limit  Child Care Center Casa Cuna   Status: done

9.       Expansion "Famia": Family planning institute  Status: ongoing

10.    Investigation UNICEF about condition on children and women on  Aruba: Status: done

(But publication is awaiting results from other islands)

 

 Let me comment on these issues:

1. The minister of Social Affairs Michelle Winklaar and Minister Visser of Sport and Public health as well as several Foundations for the protection of children wanted to introduce urgently the "Dutch Meldcode" which would oblige people to  report child abuse, end November 2010. Up til today this code has not been accepted by the Minsiter of Justice, Artur Dowers. Which means nobody has to report child abuse and medical doctors are not allowed to report child abuse. If they do so, they risk imprisonment because of breaking their medical confidentiality. Even if the "Dutch meldcode" gets accepted I have serious doubts whether childabuse will indeed be reported as  fear and corruption is still reigning the island.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6.  are good  to raise peoples conscience about what to do.
7. Together whith the Council for Child protection and several foundations I have been fighting two years to assure that the Child Care Center Imelda Hof also opens on weekends. Just before I left, end 2010, the government agreed. Finally te children did not have to return to their abusive families in the weekends.
8. and 9. are certainly good initiatives.
10: When Unicef was on the island they did not bother to interview me or the pediatricians on the situation of the children on Aruba. Now they show much interest in my book "Boa, Aruba in the stronghold". They say they want the book to be considered in their report to be send subsequently to Unicef Panama to deal with it. Panama? Isn't Aruba still in many legal and military ways connected to The Netherlands?

Apparently Mrs Désirée Croes  thinks that what has been done is largely enough and that if I had known this I wouldn't have been compelled to write my book. She is very concerned that my book will put Aruba in a bad light internationally. Her speech from 12 .07.2012 has been published in 24hora. More than half of the people have reacted by saying that the problem is much bigger than what I wrote in my book (Its the top of the iceberg) and that the government of Aruba has to act in order to improve the legal situation instead of being concerned about the good name of the island. As long as incest and child abuse is not prosecuted, as long as people are afraid to go to the police, the situation remains unchanged and stringent.

Reaction Rainbow Warriors on "Boa"

When I read the mails of Milton Ponson, I  understand why, as the only Child- and Adolescent Psychiatrist on Aruba in 2008 -2010,  I was not contacted by UNICEF which conducted an investigation in 2010,  nor invited to be part of any commission against child abuse.

By: Milton Ponson

Subject: Criticism of Rita is justified

Message: As a director of an international human rights organization (RAINBOW WARRIORS) active on Aruba and which was blacklisted a couple of years ago to prevent us from informing Nils Kastberg,  UNICEF reporter, OF ALL THINGS about the central theme of Rita's book, I support her criticisms one 100%. What happens on Aruba defies every Dutch standard of decency and is a shame for the kingdom of the Netherlands.It is a about time for an independant  investigation of the thruth by UNICEF and others to investigate the complaints about the police, the justice department and public prosecution to the bottom.

(May 2012)

Translated from original Dutch message:

Naam: Milton Ponson
Onderwerp: Kritiek Rita is terecht

Bericht: Als voorzitter van een internationale mensenrechtenorganisatie gevestigd en o.a. werkzaam op Aruba, welke enkele jaren terug op een zwarte lijst werd geplaatst om te voorkomen dat we aan de UNICEF rapporteur Nils Kastberg UITGEREKEND het centrale thema van het boek van Rita aan de kaak zouden stellen onderschrijf ik de kritiek voor 100%.
Wat op Aruba gebeurt tart alle Nederlandse normen van fatsoen en is een blamage voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden.
Het wordt tijd voor een onafhankelijke waarheidsvinding door UNICEF en anderen om met name de klachten aan het adres van politie, justitie en met name het OM op Aruba tot op de bodem uit te zoeken.






 Dear Rita,
The whole field of the human rights, defined on http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/ is being infringed upon on Aruba and in some cases systematically, on a big scale and shaded from inspection. The treatment of minors, including abuse, must therefore be seen in the context of all treaties which apply to Aruba.


By abuse we understand: (1) sexual abuse, including incest, (2) sexual exploitation by means of prostitution and pornography, (3) abuse at home by (foster) parents (4) abuse at school, (5) abuse by the justice department at the moment of arrest, interrogation and detention, (6) abuse by care takers, (7) abuse during sport, etc  


You must understand that effective, regular periodic reporting is prescribed by a number of conventions, but that they are  not sufficient, as field data collected and provided by third parties in the civil society are often not taken into account.
Most NGOs (Non Governmental Organizations) in society that focus on the rights of the child are subsidized by the Aruban government  and therefore will be very reluctant to openly report wrongdoing. It is no coincidence that of all the three independent NGOs, Amnesty Aruba, Fundacion Lisette Gomes and Rainbow Warriors Core Foundation are held on the sideline to not disturb the idyllic impression that  Aruba is dealing with the rights of the child.

 Rainbow Warriors Aruba

Milton Ponson, President
Rainbow Warriors Core Foundation

(Rainbow Warriors International)

P.O.Box 1154, Oranjestad

Aruba, Dutch Caribbean

Phone: +297 568 5908 or 011-297 568 5908 (from USA)

Email: core_rainbowwarriors@yahoo.com

translated from Dutch:

 
Beste Rita,

Het gehele veld van mensenrechten, gedefinieerd op http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/ is op Aruba onderhevig aan schendingen, en in sommige gevallen systemisch, grootschalig en afgeschermd van inspectie.

De behandeling van minderjarigen, daaronder begrepen mishandeling moet daarom gezien worden in de context van alle mogelijk van toepassing zijnde en uitgevoerde verdragen op Aruba.

Onder mishandeling wordt dan begrepen (1) sexuele mishandeling m.i.v. incest, (2) sexuele uitbuiting d.m.v. prostitutie en pornografie, (3) mishandeling thuis door (pleeg)ouders, (4) mishandeling op school, (5) mishandeling door justitie bij aanhouding, verhoor en detentie, (6) mishandeling door zorgverleners, (7) sexuele mishandeling in de sport enz.

U moet begrijpen dat doelmatige en regelmatige periodieke rapportage door een aantal verdragen is voorgeschreven, maar dat die niet toereikend is, omdat gegevens uit het veld verzameld en verstrekt door derden in het maatschappelijk veld vaak niet meegenomen worden.

Daar komt nog bij dat de meeste NGO's in het maatschappelijk veld die zich toeleggen op de rechten van het kind door de Arubaanse overheid gesubsidieerd worden en derhalve erg terughoudend zullen zijn in het openlijk rapporteren van misstanden.

Het is niet toevallig dat uitgerekend de drie onafhankelijke NGO's, Amnesty Aruba, Fundacion Lisette Gomes en Stichting Rainbow Warriors Core aan de kantlijn gehouden worden om de idyllische vertoning van de aanpak van kinderrechten op Aruba niet te verstoren.

 Rainbow Warriors Aruba

Milton Ponson, President
Rainbow Warriors Core Foundation

(Rainbow Warriors International)

P.O.Box 1154, Oranjestad

Aruba, Dutch Caribbean

Phone: +297 568 5908 or 011-297 568 5908 (from USA)

Email: core_rainbowwarriors@yahoo.com

More active measures

1. Change the status of the officials who according to Dutch-Aruban law can't be fired. If somebody knows he can't be fired whatever he does the temptation to misbehave becomes very attractive. Examples of officials which can't be fired: police men, employees of the government.
2. Change the work location of people who can get easily corrupted or put under pressure: Let them work temporarily on the different islands.
3. Have a trained, mobile child protection team, including at least a  nurse practitioner, a child psychiatrist, a lawyer which represents minors and child psychologist.
4  Have two independent  medical advisers on each island.
5. Have the police who deals with minors specially trained on this issue: how to conduct hearings in a sensible, human and clean way and how to avoid unnecessary violence.
6. Install a juvenile court on each island.

Do I ask too much? I don't think so. I'm convinced it can be done.

What can be done?

Many people on Aruba support "Boa", they say my book shows only the tip of the iceberg, that reality is much worse. Because sexual abuse of minors is hardly punished it has become endemic and one of the most guarded secrets of the island. In the year 2010 television and newspapers talked about the tragedies people told them, the minister of social affairs, Michelle Hooyboer Winklaar,  has called upon UNICEF and organized an international congress on the issue. Two white marches against sexual abuse were organized by the Foundation Lisette Gomez, Lisette being the mother of two small abused children. But since then all efforts have died away. Lisette has an anxiety disorder, the foundation does not exist any more and the papers are silenced. The government wants to make believe that everything is fine now. Nothing has changed. People are still afraid to go to the police, because many times the police sides with the suspects. It's a world where men with guns make their own laws and innocent people learn how to lie out of fear. Is Aruba in hands of wrong people, maybe drug cartels?  Aruba is a beautiful island with a lot of intelligent and beautiful people who deserve better. What happens on Aruba, can happen anywhere where small societies are cut off from external control. I think the islands have to organize an independent control system between them.
I'm translating my book into English and hope that later on it can be published in America. Not to bring Aruba in a bad light but to get the power to change things on an international level. Because children, which are abused on a daily base, live in a permanent war zone and a few  talks on some congresses won't change their fate. More active measures have to be taken.

Why the Snake?

I chose the Boa Constrictor, because once a pet, it escaped from Aruban houses into the wild and became a plague. Even the Dutch Marine can't fight it. I took this snake as a symbol of the corruption which holds Aruba in a stranglehold. Corruption starts in a friendly way: "I help you, you help me, I won't talk about what you did, you're  my brother, etc" but guess what happens: Justice disappears, the system gets paralyzed, abuse and murder are concealed, the weakest become permanent victims. As a child psychiatrist who worked in the years 2008 til 2010 on Aruba I  met with the victims: children, women, dogs... the end of the line with no way out. I tried to make justice prevail but entered the danger zone. The divided government couldn't protect me and I left the island. I promised the children of Aruba, who are left without any protection or psychiatric aid, to do something about it. That's why I wrote "Boa".

Boa (Dutch version) can be bought by the following link:

http://www.schrijverijmooimens.nl/

Boa, Aruba in the Stranglehold

First Chapter:

Blue sky, blinding sun, turquoise water.
I blink, it's just too bright.
Ever so lightly my toe pushes the automatic accelerator. A small romantic beach appears. I know that appearances are deceptive. The white sand is dotted with sticky condoms and fatty scraps of Big Macs, witnesses of Aruba's most popular leisure time activities. A motor boat is bobbing in the bay, next to two men heads, just forgotten coconuts. For a moment I imagine how it would be  if my head would bob there too, how the salty  water glides over my body until I hoist myself in the boat ,  joining the men  to race out to the sea.  Associations of difficult communication, lack of humor and sweaty bodies chase away this daydream.

I am enjoying myself in the cool cab of my new Chevy, far  above any tumult.  Quadraphonic Soft Music from the 60s dampens any sense of stress.
The traffic jam is complete on the L.G Smith Boulevard. Mesmerized I look at the bright green lawns of the Queen Wilhelmina Park. The short thick  grass is alive with wagging tails, clawing paws and  clever reptile heads  of  quickly multiplying iguanas. Out of this living carpet palm trees rise in measured distances into the sky,  waving in the permanent Aruban breeze. Between their slender trunks Queen Wilhelmina rises in full glory, carved from stone.

Stepwise my pick-up is progressing in the morning traffic. A ribbon of cars embroiders the northern coastline. In the north are the hotels,  in North there is work.
The cabin air is fresh. I’m protected from noise, heat and the smell of hundreds of exhaust pipes. Everything is fine,  right? I am a well-paid child psychiatrist on a tropical island.
"The only in Aruba!"  everyone says.
At the word "only" I am no longer so proud. The word  “only”   makes me feel that I haven’t got  enough clothes on my body , that  I am standing  half-naked  in the spotlight.


 Translated from:

Aruba 

juni  2010

Blauwe hemel, verblindende  zon,  turkoois water.

Ik knipper met mijn ogen, het is gewoon te fel.

Mijn teen duwt  lichtjes op de automatische versnelling. Een  klein  romantisch strandje verschijnt. Ik weet dat de schijn bedriegt.  Het witte  zand is bezaaid met  plakkerige condooms en vette resten van Big Mac's, getuigen van Aruba's meest geliefde vrije tijdsbestedingen . Een motorboot dobbert in de baai, ernaast twee  mannenhoofden, net vergeten kokosnoten. Heel even  stel ik me voor hoe het zou zijn als mijn hoofd daar ook zou dobberen,  hoe het zilte water over mijn lijf glijdt tot ik me in de boot hijs om met de twee  mannen de zee op te racen. Associaties van moeilijke communicatie, gebrek aan humor en zwetende lichamen verjagen deze dagdroom.

Ik heb het best naar mijn zin in de gekoelde cabine van mijn nieuwe Chevy, boven elk tumult verheven. Softmusic uit de 60er jaren dempt quadrafonisch elk gevoel van stress. 

De trafiek staat stil op de L.G Smith Boulevard. Gebiologeerd kijk ik naar de gifgroene grasperken van het Koningin Wilhelmina park. Tussen korte dikke grashalmen kwispelen  blauwgroene staarten,  klauwen bliksemsnelle pootjes en loeren pientere reptielhoofdjes van zich vlug vermenigvuldigende leguanen. Palmbomen rijzen op afgemeten afstanden uit dit levende tapijt de hemel in en zwaaien in de permanente Arubaanse bries. Tussen hun gave stammen staat Wilhelmina in volle glorie, uit steen gehouwen.  

Stapsgewijs vordert mijn pick-up  in de ochtendtrafiek. Een lint van auto’s borduurt de kustlijn richting noord. In Noord staan de hotels, in Noord is er werk.

De airco is lekker fris. Alle geluiden, de hitte en de stank van de uitlaatgassen zijn buitengesloten. Alles prima toch?  Ik ben een goedbetaalde kinderpsychiater op een tropisch eiland.

“De enige op Aruba!”, zegt iedereen.

Bij het woord “enige” ben ik tegenwoordig niet meer zo trots. Bij het woord enige heb ik soms het gevoel niet genoeg kleren aan mijn lijf te hebben, halfnaakt in de spotlight te staan.