UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 38) The maximum penalty for traffickers in and outside Suriname is life imprisonment according to the revised Penal Code. These penalties are made sufficiently stringent with respect to sex trafficking, commensurated with those prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape. Article 334 of the Penal Code criminalizes sex trafficking and labour trafficking and prescribes penalties of up to nine years’ imprisonment and a fine of SRD 100,000 for offenses involving a victim 16 years of age or older, and up to 12 years’ imprisonment and a fine of SRD 100,000 for those involving a victim under the age of 16.
Para 72) The State continues to intensify its efforts to protect children’s rights. This through the investigation of child sex trafficking cases, the prosecution of child sex trafficking offenders under the trafficking statute and the protection of child victims.

UN Compilation:
Para 34) CRC was seriously concerned that the State was a source, transit and destination country for children subjected to sex trafficking, in particular girls from Amerindian and Maroon communities in regions where mining and forestry operations were taking place. It was also seriously concerned about reports of children being coerced to engage in commercial sex, including sex tourism, and forced prostitution and forced labour in the State.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 32) ECLJ stated that within Suriname, human traffickers targeted women and children for sexual exploitation as well as low-skilled labor jobs in the country’s interior mining regions. Women and girls were sexually exploited in the mining camps and were forced to work in brothels, bars, and strip clubs.

National Report:
Para 43) The State continued to take active measures to ensure the effective implementation of the 2009 Law Combating Domestic Violence, for instance: (a) Since 2015, sexual violence/rape within marriage is recognized and sanctioned in the Penal Code. (b) In June 2017, the National Council on Domestic Violence (NCDV) was established for a period of 3 years to evaluate the National Policy Plan for the Structural Approach to address Domestic Violence 2014-2017. The mandate of the Council was extended to 15 March 2022 to, among others, update the Plan. The NCDV includes governmental and non-governmental representatives. (c) In 2018, the NCDV carried out the following activities: (i) Training on the standard domestic violence registration form as a pilot project was conducted in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Women’s Rights Centre (WRC). The pilot project was intended to measure the effectiveness of the registration form and identify the obstacles. In this pilot project 12 agencies participated. On 3 December 2018, this pilot project was evaluated. The standard domestic violence registration form was adopted and is being implemented. (ii) In October 2019, an information session on domestic violence was held for the staff members of the Paramaribo-South hotline and a delegate from the Police Corps. (iii) In November 2019, the launch of the Women's Health Report took place. This study was done by the IDB. The NCDV made its contribution in this process. (iv) Activities carried out between 2015 to 2020 include public awareness raising activities on gender and domestic violence for communication officials, priests and youngsters from different religious denominations, civil servants, high level Government officials and Community Based Organizations. (v) The students of the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, who participated in domestic violence training in November 2016 were nominated as Ambassadors of Domestic Violence by the minister of Home Affairs. Since the COVID-19 pandemic special attention has been given to domestic violence. Noteworthy, in this regard is the implementation of the project “Gender Based Violence (GBV) interventions in response to COVID – 19 measures”. • This project commenced in June 2020 and is a joint effort of the Ministries of Home Affairs as well as Justice and Police, the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Development Program and implemented by Women’s Rights Centre. (d) The judiciary has specifically appointed judges to deal with protection order appeals in cases of domestic violence, besides their existing regular duties. (e) There are also programmes initiated for perpetrators. Psychological help is being offered by psychologists, religious leaders, and NGOs such as The Foundation Stop Violence Against Women. Counseling is also offered to perpetrators of all forms of violence -including domestic violence- in prison. Data of the various programs are regularly gathered and the programs are evaluated.
Para 44) Currently, there is only one Government shelter for female victims of domestic violence and their children up to 12 years.
Para 45) The services provided by the shelter are evaluated regularly for improvement. There are two Government bureaus for Victim Aid (one in the district of Paramaribo and one in the district of Nickerie). 46. There is also a shelter operated by an NGO called “Stichting Tehuis voor Vrouwen in Crisis Situaties”, where women and children in crisis situations can find a temporary safespace.
Para 47) The Republic of Suriname continues to promote women’s empowerment through different activities.
Para 48) During the period 2016–2020, as a follow-up from a Training of Trainers by WRC (a project organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs and UNDP) the Ministry of Home Affairs has provided training on gender, women's rights, violence and other gender-related issues.
Para 49) Since 2016, gender is one of the topics included in the curricula of the annual courses of Civil Servants.
Para 50) Installation of the Gender Platform in the district of Nickerie in February 2019. The Gender Platform Nickerie is a collaboration and consultation structure in which stakeholders (Government organizations, non-governmental organizations and individuals) address gender issues in the district to contribute to the achievement of gender equality in different areas and levels.
Para 51) To eliminate gender biases and stereotypes regarding the roles and responsibilities of men and women in the family and society various activities have been carried out.
Para 52) The legislative gaps related to the rights of women and concrete actions aimed at eliminating discrimination against women, the application of the principle of nondiscrimination and improve the rights of women and gender equality, including the participation of women in economic life have been addressed by the Government of Suriname as follows:
Para 53) Suriname ratified the ILO core conventions: (a) the Equal Remuneration Convention (No. 100); and (b) the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (No. 111) in January 2017.
Para 54) The ratification resulted in the inclusion of the principle of non-discrimination in several labour laws enacted in the reporting period such as: (a) the Freedom of Associations Act (S.B. 2016 no. 151)1 ; (b) the Collective Bargaining Agreements Act (S.B. 2016 no. 152)2 ; (c) the Private Employment Agencies Act (S.B. 2017 no. 42)3 and; (d) the Labour Exchange Act 2017 (S.B. 2017 no. 67) .
Para 55) The two latter laws are also based on the ILO Private Employment Agencies Convention (No. 181) which was ratified by Suriname. 56. The principle of equal pay for work of equal value was included in the legislation regarding the temporary agency workers (Private Employment Agencies Act based on the ILO Equal Pay Convention (No. 100).
Para 57) On 11 April 2019, the principle of non-discrimination was incorporated in the Employment Protection Act for parenthood/families which was adopted in Parliament and entered into force on 18 June 2019, (S.B. 2019 no. 64) . The participation of women on the labour market was promoted by the introduction of mandatory maternity leave (16 weeks) and paternal leave (8 days), employment protection related to maternity and paternity leave and the labour conditions of pregnant and lactating women. In order to introduce more WorkLife-Balance in the world of work, which could benefit women who tend to accept relatively more specific family responsibilities, the Government of Suriname submitted the Bill Working Time to The National Assembly in 2019.
Para 58) To promote safe working conditions and prevent discrimination in the workplace, two Bills were tabled in Parliament in 2019 namely: (a) the Bill on Equal Treatment in Employment ; and (b) the Bill on Violence and Sexual Harassment on the Workfloor .
Para 59) In 2018, the Identity Cards (ID Cards) Act 2018, (S.B. 2019 no. 16) was approved by Parliament. This Act contains the rules for identifying citizens, manufacturing, issuing and withdrawing ID cards. With the entry into force of this law, the Identity Act of July 3, 1974 (G.B. 1974 no. 35, as last amended by S.B. 2002 no.19) and the implementing regulation based on this law were repealed. The Identity Annex I (S.B. 1976 no. 10) has been withdrawn. In 2018 a working group was established to revise discriminatory provisions in the Personnel Act (G.B. 1962 no. 195, as last amended by S.B. 1987 no. 93).
Para 60) To raise awareness regarding equal opportunities and responsibilities for men and women, in order to abolish discrimination on the basis of gender which will lead to greater representation of women in positions of responsibility, the State has conducted some activities among others:
Para 61) In 2016 the Bureau Gender Affairs (BGA) implemented various awareness-raising activities regarding the International Day of the Girl Child.
Para 62) Governance and decision- making within private and public life is one of the seven priority areas identified in the Gender Vision Policy Document 2021-2035.
Para 63) The Gender Vision Policy Document contains long term goals to be achieved within five to fifteen years.
Para 64) Suriname does not have a legal quota system for the political decision-making apparatus and in particular The National Assembly. There was discussion on the possibility for introducing quota as a means to increase the number of women in decision-making positions. However, there are still different views on e.g. determining legal quota for appointments.
Para 65) Various campaigns and projects have been carried out to encourage and increase participation of women in political structures. These activities were mainly carried out by NGOs and women’s organisations and took place prior to the 2015 and 2020 general elections. Activities related to women in the democratic process which were implemented were among others: (a) Project “More Women in Decision-making 2015”. (b) The “OokZij” Campaign of STAS International (2014-2015). (c) After the elections of May 2015, the Bureau Gender Affairs also collected and analyzed data on women’s political participation, including in appointed and elected positions.
Para 66) In preparation of the 2020 elections, personnel of the Ministry of Home Affairs was trained in the period 2016 -2017 in the various election processes. This project “Training Institutional Strengthening Election Organization” was funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Para 67) Activities regarding the thematic area governance and decision – making are identified in the Gender Action Plan 2019-2020, which are among others, to achieve an increase of gender balance in staff of electoral structures, awareness on the importance of equal participation of men and women in political parties and Surinamese society as a whole as well as gender-friendly polling stations. However, due to lack of finances and COVID-19 measures some of these activities could not be implemented, whereas, the following was conducted: The NGO STAS International implemented an awareness campaign “Balance in 2020”, with support of the UNDP and the Dutch Embassy, with the aim to achieve balance (men/women and young/old candidates) on the candidates lists of the general elections of May 25, 2020. Live television debates with political organizations were also part of this awareness campaign.
Para 68) Upon request of the BGA, the General Secretariat Elections of the Ministry of Home Affairs produced statistics on e.g. candidates, voters by sex, age, and district/resort.
Para 69) As a post - election activity the BGA conducted a gender analysis on documents and other productions produced for the General Elections of May 2020 such as educational material, final report on the General elections, etc.
Para 70) Measures to ensure gender equality and non-discrimination of women in all spheres particularly the presence of women and the eradication of gender discrimination in the labour market are among others: (a) The establishment of a Labour Market Information System, which is currently in progress. (b) The update of the Workers Registration Act.
Para 71) The Republic of Suriname has conducted the following activities to implement outcome-oriented programmes to empower women’s participation in the workforce such as: (a) The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation (former Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism), and the Cooperative Savings and Credit Bank Godo, have signed a cooperation agreement in February 2019 to improve entrepreneurship in Suriname. (b) The workarms of the Ministry of Labour, Employment Opportunity and Youth Affairs (former Ministry of Labour) namely Foundation for Productive Works (SPWE) and Vocational Training Institute (SAO), the Council for Cooperatives (RACO) and Trustbank Amanah have agreed to a Public Private Partnership and an MOU has been signed in April 2019 to stimulate micro and small entrepreneurship. (c) The agricultural cooperation “Wi Uma fu Sranan” is the first women’s agro cooperation in Suriname (launched in February 2016). It consists of approximately 40 Maroon women. This cooperation aims at jointly developing the interior of Suriname by increasing employment opportunities for Maroon women and is active in the districts of Brokopondo, Saramacca, Para and Wanica. (d) Markets have been established where the fast majority of the vendors consists of female entrepreneurs among others: The craft market ‘Waterkant’, for the sale of handicraft products made by mainly Maroon and Indigenous women and the ‘Kwakoe Market’ for mainly Maroon women to offer their fruits and vegetables to the community. (e) The Suriname Agriculture Market Access Project (SAMAP) is being carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Husbandry and Fisheries for a period of four (4) years to strengthen sustainable agricultural development in Suriname through more competitive and safe production and better access to the export market.
Para 128) Within these development frameworks, several national plans and policies have been developed particularly including the focus on women, children and youth, such as: … (g) National Action Plan Trafficking, Gender Action Plan (2019-2020); (h) Gender Vision Policy Document (2021-2035);
Para 129) To eradicate poverty and strengthen social protection, a National Social Security System has been put in place through the adoption and implementation of three (3) social laws namely the Minimum Hour Wage Act (S.B. 2014 no. 112), the General Pension Benefits Act (S.B. 2014 no. 113) and a National Basic Health Insurance Act (S.B. 2014 no. 114). Major beneficiaries of these interventions are women, considering their overrepresentation in lower income groups and the growing number of female heads of households.

UN Compilation:
Para 41) The ILO Committee of Experts noted that according to available World Bank statistics, youth unemployment levels remained high: 15.69 per cent in 2016 and 15.86 per cent in 2017.
Para 42) The United Nations country team stated that young people and women had a disproportional higher unemployment rate. Available data were not collected nationally, but only for the districts of Paramaribo and Wanica. Vulnerability and impact in all 10 districts could therefore not be assessed. No specific action had been taken by the local government to empower women to compete in the labour market on an equal footing with men.
Para 43) CEDAW noted with concern women’s unequal access to economic opportunities and the disproportionately high unemployment rate among women, in particular rural women, Maroon women and indigenous women.
Para 52) The CEDAW noted with concern the extremely high poverty rate among rural women, Maroon women and indigenous women and their very limited access to basic services, including health services, education, clean water, adequate sanitation, energy and communications technologies.
Para 58) CEDAW remained concerned about the inadequate funding of the health sector, resulting in women’s very limited access to basic health-care services, in particular for rural women, Maroon women and indigenous women, who often had to travel to Paramaribo to seek specialist medical treatment.
Para 73) CEDAW remained concerned about limited access for girls from disadvantaged groups, including girls with disabilities, and significant disparities in enrolment rates between rural and urban areas, as well as the poor quality of elementary schools and the lack of secondary schools in rural areas.
Para 74) CRC was seriously concerned about the large number of students who dropped out of school, in particular girls in the interior areas and boys nationally, and the large number of students repeating grades.
Para 76) The CEDAW remained concerned about high drop-out rates, and expulsion rates, due to early pregnancy, and the tendency among young mothers to pursue vocational training instead of returning to school.
Para 82) The United Nations country team stated that domestic violence was a pervasive problem. The Government had adopted laws that provided specific protections for violence against women and girls, but its implementation had been stymied by a lack of training and tools at the operational level to ensure proper recording and tracking of cases, a lack of social services to support survivors, and inefficient and ineffective criminal justice systems to hold perpetrators accountable.
Para 89) CEDAW reiterated its previous concern about the significant underrepresentation of women in political and public life, in particular in decision-making positions, including in the National Assembly and the Council of Ministers.
Para 112) CEDAW noted that the State had experienced a sharp increase in the number of registered asylum seekers in 2016 and 2017 and was concerned about the lack of a national policy governing refugee protection or asylum procedures in the State, as well as the lack of long-term protection measures for women refugees and asylum seekers who were victims of trafficking or gender-based violence.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 72) JS1 stated that women, girls, lesbian, bisexual and trans women, women living with HIV, sex workers and migrant women and girls in vulnerable situations experienced sexual and gender-based violence, discrimination and stigmatization in the private and the public domain. It stated that risk factors included young age, low educational level, pregnancy and early cohabitation with a male partner. In addition, social and cultural attitudes contributed significantly to maintaining entrenched gender roles within society.
Para 73) JS1 stated that sexual harassment was recognized as a serious problem by both employees and employers, and that it was linked to structural and cultural factors such as unequal gender relations, hierarchical organization structures, a sexualized context and a macho culture.