About our faculty

Established in 1988, the Faculty of Law (FdR) was the first faculty to offer its services at the University of Aruba. Since its establishment, more than 200 students have obtained their Master’s Degree in Aruban Law. A great number of these graduates have found employment in Aruba, while others have pursued further specialization in the Netherlands.

The Faculty of Law of the University of Aruba aims to provide Aruba with well-trained and highly qualified professionals in the area of Aruban law.

Academic programs

The Faculty of Law provides academic education and training for a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Aruban law. In contrast to law studies at large universities in the Netherlands, the Faculty of Law at UA offers small classes with personal attention for each student. The undergraduate program (Bachelor) is a three-year program, while the Master program is one year, with the possibility to specialize in two different profiles: Legal practice and; International Law, Regulation and Governance.

Study Resources and Downloads

For all downloads, including study guides, schedules, book lists and more, please use the button below.

Go to Study Resources

Research

The Faculty of Law of the University of Aruba conducts research and delivers services that benefit the Aruban society as a whole and the legal professional community in particular. The Faculty of Law conducts applied and scientific research in all legal fields. The faculty has its own research program, entitled ‘Rights, freedoms and principles of law in the Aruban context’. More detailed information about the research program can be found in our research repository

Faculty members publish their research findings in books and publications series like the SNAAR series. Next to that, they also publish in legal periodicals like the ‘Caribisch Juristenblad (CJB)’ and the ‘Nederlandse Juristen Blad (NJB)’. Students of the faculty are being encouraged to participate in research projects of the faculty members and do research of their own, for example when writing their thesis.

For more information about the faculty’s research and social services, please contact dean-of-law@ua.aw.

Research Program 2024-2029

View English version
View Dutch version

Research Repository

Wij werken graag samen met andere partners. Bent u geïnteresseerd in samenwerking, heeft u een specifieke onderzoeksopdracht of wilt u meer weten over ons onderzoeksprogramma en/of de expertise van onze medewerkers? Neem dan gerust contact op via dean-of-law@ua.aw

International opportunities

Students can complete part of the bachelor’s degree or master’s by following courses abroad.

The Faculty of Law collaborates with a number of foreign universities to organize exchange programs based on the Erasmus+ mobility program and other non-Erasmus exchange.

If you don’t study in Aruba but wish to take courses at the UA Faculty of Law, you might be eligible to do an exchange program at our university.

Contact the Office of International Affairs for more information

Vision and mission

Partner institutions

The Faculty of Law of the University of Aruba has exchange programs with a number of foreign universities on basis of the Erasmus+ program, such as Maribor University (Slovenia), University of Valladolid (Segovia, Spain) and KU Leuven (Belgium).

Explore our Partner Institutions

Faculty dean and vice-deans

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” ~ Martin Luther King

Dean

Carlos Bollen
Phone: (297) 526-2220
carlos.bollen@ua.aw

Vice Dean

Chun Luk
Phone: (297) 526-2227
chun.luk@ua.aw

Vice Dean

Benedicta Deogratias
Phone: (297) 526-2225
benedicta.deogratias@ua.aw

Faculty Staff

Abida Abarkan has been a lecturer at our faculty since 2023. Her fields of expertise are General law and jurisprudence, international law, and European law. Next to that, Abida is part of our Educational Program Committee, the Exam Committee and the PR committee.

Email: abida.abarkan@ua.aw

Phone: (297) 526 2222

Before joining the University of Aruba, Abida worked at The Hague University of Applied Sciences as a lecturer, as well as a Research Assistant at the Erasmus University Rotterdam (the Netherlands). Abida also worked as a Research Assistant at the Max Planck Foundation for International Peace and the Rule of Law.

Abida obtained her LL.B. from the Erasmus University in Rotterdam (the Netherlands), followed by a successful completion of her LL.M. studies in international law and European law in the same university.

Abida teaches the following courses:

  • Introduction to legal theory (Bachelor 1)
  • Legal and communication skills (Bachelor 1)
  • International law (Bachelor 2)
  • Introduction to Human Rights (Bachelor 3)

As Abida’s interests lies in the field of General Law, international law and European law. Her research mostly focuses on migration law.

Some of her recent publications:

  • A. Abarkan (2024, forthcoming) Breach of Article 3 ECHR: research into the deportation of asylum seekers from Venezuela by Aruba.

A full overview of her research and publications can be found via this link

Carlos joined the Faculty of Law of the University of Aruba in 2007 as associate professor in Private law. Next to that, he acts as the dean of the faculty. He is also study advisor of the faculty. Carlos also has tasks regarding the university wide wellbeing program (Shoco Wellness) and he takes part in the committee that discusses criteria for the program with law professionals.

His fields of expertise are Patrimonial law, especially Aruban, Dutch and comparative contract law and consumer law.


Email: carlos.bollen@ua.aw

Phone: (297) 526 2220

Carlos studied law at Maastricht University (the Netherlands) and Lancaster University (England). He previously worked at Maastricht University as PhD student (1994-2000) and as assistant professor (2000-2007).

Carlos teaches the courses:

  • Arubaans verbintenissenrecht (ba 2)
  • Arubaans arbeidsrecht (ba 2)
  • Capita verbintenissenrecht (ma)

In June 2002, Carlos defended his PhD-thesis, titled ‘Onverschuldigde betaling door de overheid. Een onderzoek naar terugvordering door de overheid en het gebruik van privaatrecht daarbij’ (Undue payment by the government. A research on the use of private law with respect to recovery of undue payments by the government). He has been a member on several legislative commissions since that advised on and prepared major revisions of the Aruban Civil Code. He has published in national and international journals and books.

Carlos is a member of the editorial board of the Caribisch Juristenblad (Caribbean Law Review) and the SNAAR-series, a series of books published by Boom Juridische uitgevers on the law in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Some of his recent publications include:

A full overview of his research and publications can be found via this link

Ruth Bonnevalle-Kok joined the University of Aruba in 2017. Her fields of expertise are Aruban Criminal Law and the Law of Criminal Procedure and International Criminal Law.

Ruth Bonnevalle-Kok served as Dean of the Law faculty from academic year 2020-2021 until June 2024. Since 2019, she serves as a Member of the Supervisory Board of the Korrektie Instituut Aruba (KIA). In addition, she participates in the steering committee “Implementatie Wetboek van Strafvordering van Aruba 2024” of the Aruban Public Prosecutor (OM). In this capacity, she provided courses to over 250 legal professionals from the Caribbean region in both Aruba and Curaçao in 2024. Finally, Ruth serves as a substitute Member of the LAR Bezwaarschriftencommissie since November 2023.

Email: ruth.bonnevalle@ua.aw

Phone: (297) 526 2222

Ruth obtained her Law degree from Leiden University (the Netherlands) in 2000. As part of her studies, she worked as a Legal Intern at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in 2019. She started her career as a PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam, resulting in her doctoral thesis entitled “Statutory Limitations in International Criminal Law” (The Hague: Asser Press/Cambridge University Press 2007).  Ruth pursued her career within the judiciary in The Netherlands, starting at the International Crimes Unit of the Office of the Examining Magistrate at the District Court in The Hague. From 2008-2016, she served as a Member of the Legal Research Office (Section Criminal Law) of the Supreme Court of The Netherlands. She served as a Substitute Judge at the district courts of both Alkmaar and Amsterdam from 2011-2015. From 2014 until 2016, the Supreme Court granted her leave to serve as a Senior Legal Advisor at the Afdeling International Rechtshulp in Strafzaken (AIRS) at the Ministry of Security and Justice of the Netherlands. Afterwards, Ruth moved to Aruba and started working at the University of Aruba.

Ruth Bonnevalle-Kok teaches the following courses:

  • Introduction to Aruban Criminal Law and Law of Criminal Procedures (Bachelor 1)
  • Aruban Criminal Law and Criminal Procedures Law (Bachelor 2)
  • Advanced Criminal Law (Bachelor 3)
  • International Criminal Law (Master)
  • OM Nationale Requireerwedstrijd

In 2007, Ruth received her Ph.D. from Amsterdam University for her doctoral thesis entitled “ Statutory Limitations in International Criminal Law” (The Hague: Asser Press/Cambridge University Press 2007). Ruth Bonnevalle-Kok was a Vice-Editor-in-Chief of the Hague Journal of International Law for over ten years (2007-2020). Her research interests lie in Aruban Law of Criminal Procedure and international/interinsular Criminal Procedure. Ruth also quarterly writes for the Caribisch Juristenblad.

Some of her recent publications include:

A full overview of Ruth’s publications can be found via this link

Benedicta is a researcher and lecturer of general law at the Law Faculty of the University of Aruba since March 2020. Her fields of interest are: Methods in Empirical Legal Research, Human Rights Law, Women’s rights, and Law and Religion.

Benedicta is the exchange coordinator of the faculty. Next to that, she is the coordinator of the Tienda di Ley of the Faculty of Law and she serves as Vice-dean of Research.

Email: benedicta.deogratias@ua.aw

Phone: (297) 526 2225

Previously, Benedicta worked at Maastricht University (the Netherlands) as a part time lecturer and researcher. Benedicta obtained her LL. B degree in European Law School and LL.M degree in Globalization and Law from Maastricht University in 2012 and 2013 respectively. In 2019 she defended her PhD thesis “ Trapped in a religious marriage: A human rights perspective on the phenomenon of marital captivity”’  which was awarded the Feministisch cultuurfonds Gender & Wetenschap dissertation award.

Benedicta will be teaching the following courses:

  • Introduction to legal theory (Bachelor 1)
  • Moot court (Bachelor 3)
  • Introduction to Human Rights (Bachelor 3)
  • Human Rights Research Clinic (Master)

Benedicta’s research focuses predominantly on human rights topics related to women’s rights, social inequalities and racial discrimination. In 2019, she obtained her PhD at Maastricht University titled: Trapped in a religious marriage: A human rights perspective on the phenomenon of marital captivity.

Currently, Benedicta is conducting, in cooperation with partners from the CBHRI, University of Curaçao, University of Sint-Maarten and the University of Utrecht, a ZonMW funded research project on the social and human rights consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic titled  ‘Upholding Human Rights in a Pandemic: The social Impact of the COVID-19 Measures on Vulnerable Families in Curaçao, Aruba and St. Maarten.’

Some of her recent publications include:

  • B. Deogratias et al. (2024), COVIDCAS Research into the resilience of Dutch Caribbean Societies – Final report’, Curaçao Biomedical Research Institute
  • B. Deogratias &  S. Rutten (2020), ‘VWS rapport’, De eer gekeerd : Een verkennend onderzoek naar de rol van de extended family bij de aanpak van eergerelateerd geweld in verschillende Europese landen’, Maastricht University: Maastricht 2020.
  • B. Deogratias (2020), Trapped in a religious marriage: A Human rights perspective on the on the phenomenon of marital captivity, Intersentia: Antwerpen  2020.
  • B. Deogratias, A. Osuna & C. Eugene (2023), COVID-CAS, a story of resilience – The educator, short video
  • B. Deogratias, A. Osuna & J. Mora (2023), COVID-CAS, a story of resilience – The Care taker, short video
  • B. Deogratias, A. Osuna & A. Theis (2023), COVID-CAS, a story of resilience – The community Member, short video

A full overview of Benedicta’s research and publications can be found via this link

In 2006, after graduating at the Faculty of Law of our university, Miranda Gielen joined our team as a lecturer. Her fields of expertise are in Aruban and Dutch Civil Law, and Aruban and Dutch Family Law. Miranda is our thesis coordinator, as well as internship coordinator of our faculty.

Email: miranda.gielen@ua.aw

Phone: (297) 526 2224

Before joining the faculty of law, Miranda worked in primary education in Egypt, the Netherlands and Aruba for eighteen years.

Miranda teaches the following courses:

  • Introduction to Private Law (Bachelor 1)
  • Persons and Family Law (Bachelor 3)
  • International Family Law (Bachelor 3)

Miranda’s research focuses mostly on Aruban family law. On the occasion of the revision of the Aruban Civil Code in 2021, Miranda compiled a law book in which she compared the Aruban family law legislation (book 1 Civil Code) with the same legislation of Curaçao, St. Maarten, the Netherlands and the islands of Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius (BES islands).

Some of her recent publications include:

A full overview of Miranda’s research and publications can be found via this link

brechtje huiskes vice dean faculty of law fdr university of aruba ua

Brechtje Huiskes joined our team in 2021. Her fields of expertise are amongst others Aruban Constitutional Law and Administrative Law. Brechtje is a member of our Educational Program Committee, as well as member of the Tienda di Ley committee of the faculty. She also serves as Vice-President of the complaints committee of the General Practitioners Association Aruba (HAVA klachtencommissie) and Secretary of the Foundation for Post Academic Education.

Email: brechtje.huiskes@ua.aw

Phone: (297) 526 2221

Brechtje obtained her Bachelor and Masters degree in Dutch Law from Maastricht University (the Netherlands) in 2012, with a specialization in both Criminal Law and Criminal, Civil and Administrative Procedure. During that year she also obtained a joint Master degree in International Criminal Law from Columbia University (New York, United States) and the University of Amsterdam (the Netherlands). She also participated in a year-long Erasmus exchange program at the University Paris I: Panthéon-Sorbonne (France).

Brechtje previously worked as attorney at law at VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne in Curaçao and Aruba from 2013 up to 2020, specializing in corporate law, corporate governance and aircraft registrations. In 2020 she worked as legal specialist in real estate transactions at Johnson Notary Services.

Brechtje teaches the following courses:

  • Aruban Constitutional and Administrative Law (Bachelor 2)
  • International Law (Bachelor 2)
  • Extraordinary Administrative Law (Master)

Brechtje is currently working on research that focuses on accountability of political actors in small island states.

Some of her recent publications include:

  • B. Huiskes (draft 2023) Ensuring Equal Human Rights Enjoyment and Protection in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Society for Caribbean Studies 2023 Conference, Conference abstract

A full overview of Brechtje’s research and publications can be found via this link

Chun Luk has been Assistant Professor in Private Law at the University of Aruba since March 2022. As of September 2024, Chun serves as the Vice-dean of Education of the Law faculty.

Chun’s fields of expertise are in asylum and migration law, human rights law, nationality law and European citizenship.

Email: chun.luk@ua.aw

Phone: (297) 526 2227

Previously, Chun worked at the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels, conducting research on topics related to the EU Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. Chun obtained his LL.M. in Aruban Law at the University of Aruba in 2012, as well as an LL.M. in International Laws at Maastricht University in 2014, during which he participated in study exchange programmes at the University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong) and the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona). He obtained his PhD in Law at Maastricht University in 2017.

Chun Luk teaches the following courses:

  • Aruban Property Law (Goederenrecht) (Bachelor 3)
  • Aruban Insolvency Law (Faillissementsrecht) (Bachelor 3)
  • Introduction to Human Rights (Bachelor 3)

Chun has published on and is interested in topics of asylum and migration law, human rights law, nationality law and European citizenship. In 2017, he obtained his PhD in Law at Maastricht University after successfully defending his thesis entitled “Diaspora status and citizenship rights: A comparative-legal analysis of the quasi-citizenship schemes of China, India and Suriname”.

He is moreover interested in research in the other field of law, including Aruban property law, legal issues of small island jurisdictions in regional and international perspectives, and copyright law.

Some of his recent publications include:

  • European Union Policies on Onward and Secondary Movements of Asylum-seekers and Refugees, Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), 2022-03 | Report
  • Limitations on Human Mobility in Response to COVID-19, Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), 2021-12 | Report
  • In the name of COVID, European Parliament, 2020-09 | Report | Writing – original draft

A full overview of his research and publications can be found via this link

Hannah Meijer joined the Faculty of Law in 2023 as a lecturer in Constitutional and Administrative Law. Her fields of expertise include constitutional law and administrative law and public administration.

Hannah is Chair of the Exam Committee.

Email: hannah.meijer@ua.aw

Phone: (297) 526 2221

Previously, Hannah worked at the University of Groningen (the

Netherlands). First as a policy advisor and from 2021 onwards, she had a lecturer position there. She taught courses on Dutch constitutional law, administrative law and comparative constitutional law.

Hannah holds a Masters degree in Dutch constitutional law and administrative law, as well as a Masters degree in Law and Public Administration from the University of Groningen. She undertook part of her studies at the Australian National University.

Hannah teaches the following courses:

  • Introduction to legal theory (Bachelor 1)
  • Introduction to Aruban Constitutional and Administrative Law (Bachelor 1)
  • International Law (Bachelor 2)
  • Capita Administrative Law (Bachelor 3)

Hannah’s research interests lie in comparative constitutional law. Her current research focuses specifically on Kingdom affairs and the position of the different countries and municipalities within the Kingdom of the Netherlands when they want to collaborate on performing public tasks

Some of her recent publications:

A full overview of Hannah’s research and publications can be found via this link

Michella has been affiliated with the faculty since March 2025. As an alumna, she has, among other things, conducted research on behalf of an external client and was actively involved in the legal clinic, Tienda di Ley.

Email: michella.vanloon@ua.aw

Phone: (297) 526 2227

Michella van Loon obtained her Master’s degree in History in 1998 from Utrecht University and has extensive experience teaching history and civics at various secondary education levels. She has held several leadership roles in education, including Principal of the Evening HAVO/VWO and Principal of Colegio Arubano, the largest HAVO/VWO school in Aruba. In September 2024, she completed a law degree at the University of Aruba. Other previous roles include positions at the Directorate of Foreign Affairs in the Legal Affairs and Treaties Division, and as a member of the Children’s Rights Committee of Aruba. She’s a regular guest speaker at the youth parliament.

Michella van Loon teaches the following courses:

  • Introduction to Aruban Criminal Law and Law of Criminal Procedure (Bachelor 1)
  • Aruban Criminal Law and Criminal Procedures Law (Bachelor 2)
  • Advanced Criminal Law (Bachelor 3)

In 2023, Nicole joined our faculty. She will be assisting the staff with all the administrative workload. Before joining us, Nicole worked at a renowned accounting firm and later decided to switch fields and worked at a law firm. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance at the University of Central Florida.

You can contact Nicole via email, for example when you are unable to find certain information on our website, or if you are unsure whom to approach if you have a request to the (lecturers of the) faculty of law or a question about our study programs.

Email: nicole.habibe@ua.aw

Faculty news and events

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Extra-curricular Activities

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Quality Assurance

Accreditation is a quality label that is granted formally by an independent authority to an academic and professional program that meets or exceeds required standards of educational quality. The UA invites the NVAO (Nederlands Vlaamse Accreditatieorganisatie) to evaluate its programs against international Bachelor and Master degree standards. The following study programs of the Faculty of Law have been awarded a positive evaluation. Click on the reports below to read the positive evaluations by NVAO (reports are in dutch).

    Contact Us

    Faculty of Law


    Phone: +297 526-2264
    fdr@ua.aw
    J. Irausquin Plein 4
    Oranjestad, Aruba