Safe Together Strong Together: one year of working together on domestic safety

With the introduction of the compulsory Protection Code BES, the Safe Together Strong Together campaign was also launched to raise awareness of domestic violence and child abuse. Because a safe home environment is not self-evident. Everybody deserves a place where they feel safe — and nobody needs to face things alone.

Support for professionals: the Protection Code BES

The protection code is a step-by-step plan for professionals in the care, education, and judicial sector for situations where they suspect someone is not safe at home. This step-by-step plan is called the Protection Code BES and is compulsory for organisations in these sectors. In 2025 Care and Youth Caribbean Netherlands (ZJCN) supported these organisations, which are now required to have a protection code, during the implementation and application of this protection code. This support is continued in 2026.

Discussions with islanders
The campaign initially focused on professionals and later in 2025 also on citizens. Through questionnaires it was examined what people know and need in order to recognise signals of unsafe situations and to discuss them openly. Discussions about safety and responsibility were held with young persons at secondary schools on all three islands and on Saba and St. Eustatius open sunset gatherings were organised for adults to talk about the topic together.

Continuation in 2026: continue building together
Also in 2026 the Safe Together Strong Together campaign is going to be continued. After the initial message ‘We are all ears’, which basically focuses on listening and openness, in 2026 the campaign will focus on how to act in situations of violence, neglect, or abuse.