In the context of the International Day of Refugees, Human Rights Defense Curaçao (HRDC) organized on June 19th a reading morning for undocumented children in collaboration with Venex. This was possible thanks to a donation from the Fundashon Sembra Buki of 25 copies of the Papiamentu language children’s book Ilegal. The booklet recounts the experiences and fears of a schoolboy without a residence permit, popularly referred to as Illegal. It was explained that the word illegal is not correct, because every child and person has rights as a human being. The author of the book, Hubert Penza, read from the book himself. Each child was given their own copy to encourage reading at home. Some parents, themselves refugees, provided the refreshments.
HRDC will continue to work for the visibility and integration and inclusion of the thousands of undocumented inhabitants of Curaçao.