Human rights in Suriname
Human rights in Surinameare currently recognised under the Constitution of the Republic ofSurinameof 1987.[1]Suriname is a constitutional democracy with a president elected by the unicameralNational Assembly.[2]The National Assembly underwentelections in 2020,electingChan Santokhias president. The National Assembly has a commission pertaining to issues regarding the country's human rights. The Human Rights Office of the Ministry of Justice and Police is responsible for advising the government on regional and international proceedings against the state concerning human rights.[2]Human rights in Suriname is periodically reviewed by theUnited Nations Human Rights Committee(UNHRC), on which it is often believed the level of human rights do not yet meet international standards.[3]
Suriname currently continues to face various human rights issues, from the beginning of the country's history with Surinam'sMaroonswho are part of the population of African descent, to more modern day issues such as corruption,human trafficking,abuse andviolence against womenandchildren,child labour,andcriminal defamationlaws.[2]
Freedom of the press[edit]
The constitution provides forfreedom of expression,including freedom of the press. Whilst there are no formal restrictions on the press, actions undertaken by the government and non-government actors overrule the ability that of the independent media to continue their work.[1]
Journalists, of those within the industry, have continuously reported intimidation by government and nongovernmental actors. Media outlets in Suriname have now begun intermittently running articles with only theInitialsof the journalists, as opposed to their full names.[1]Some have been chosen to leave piecesanonymousto protect the integrity and identity of the writers. Journalists in Suriname are generally provided a minimal to low wage, making them vulnerable tobiasand influence, further jeopardising the credibility of reporting.
On the other hand, the government's media office and those in the private sector, tend to hire private journalists removed from independent media outlets and offer them higher wages.[4]This practice creates difficulty for independent media outlets to retain qualified staff and impede upon their ability to report adequately on governmental activities.
Political rights[edit]
Universal suffragewas introduced in 1948, allowing Surinamese citizens over the age of 18 to vote.[5]Suriname legislation provides citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held bysecret ballotand based on universal and equalsuffrage.[1]The constitution provides for direct election of the 51-member national assembly no later than five years after the prior election date.[5]The National Assembly in turn elects the president by a two-thirds majority vote. The National Assembly underwentelections in 2020,electingChan Santokhias president in 2020. Observers from theOrganization of American Statesand the Union of South American States judged that the 2015 elections were well organised and generally free and fair.[4]
Allegations of corruption by the government have remained prevalent as the economy has grown. Allegations surrounded government contracting to political party insiders and supports and transparency of government decisions to issue mineral and timber concession rights.[4]Widespread perception holds that officials use public power for private gain. Civil society, media and other non-governmental parties particularly scrutinise and criticise the Ministries of Public Works, Social Affairs, Public Health, Finance, Regional Development, and Physical Planning, alleging widespread corruption and favouritism.[4]
Children's rights[edit]
Birth registration[edit]
TheCivil Registryrequires all births to be registered within one week. Failure of registration within the mandated period results in more length process of registration. Offspring are permittedcitizenshipif at least of the birth parents falls under the Suriname "Citizenship and Residency Law".[4]
Child abuse[edit]
In 2017, police registered 35 counts of physical abuse and 212 cases ofchild sexual abuse,and in 2018, 47 and 256 cases respectfully.[6]Experts believe in actuality that the actual number of abuse cases are significantly higher than that reported. Official arrangements allowing victims to testify in special chambers at legal proceedings has been implemented to avoid intimidation by perpetrators.[4]The Suriname government authorities operate a phone hotline for children requiring confidential advice and aid, servicing an average of to 80 calls daily.
The Suriname Youth Affairs Office actively promotes the awareness of sexual abuse, drugs and alcohol through a weekly television program.[4]The Ministry of Justice and Police operate three child protection centers around the country.
Child labour[edit]
Some forms ofchild labourare still legal and practiced throughout Suriname. Historically, child labour occurred in agriculture, logging,fisheries,mining and the construction industries, as well asstreet vending.[7]The legal minimum age for most types of employment was 14, and working hours for minors under 14 are restricted to day shifts only, and only under family-owned businesses, small-scale agriculture or special vocational work.[4]Children under the age of 15 were not permitted to work on boats. Children under the age of 18 are by law prohibited to partake in hazardous work; defined as work that can be endangering to life, health and decency.[4]
In 2018, the Suriname government made advancements to alleviate practices of child labour throughInternational Labour Organisation Convention138 concerning the minimum age for admission to employment; raising the minimum age of work to 16. Laws and regulations surrounding child labour in Suriname are yet to meet international standards. With Article 20 of the Law on Basic Education requiring children to attend school until they are at least 12 not meeting the minimum age for employment of 16, many children are left vulnerable to labour exploitation.[8]A 2017United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation(UNESCO)report on Surinamese Children's work and education showed that 6.4% (approximately 6,671) of children aged 5 to 14 worked, with 6.6% of children aged 7 to 14 combining both work and school. Suriname's net attendance ratio for primary school showed 96% and secondary school showing 53%.[8]
Women's rights[edit]
The law provides for protection ofwomen's rightsto equal access to education, employment andproperty.[1]In July 2014, Suriname's National Assembly passed the Draft Law on Nationality and Residency, amending law number 4, giving women the same right as men to confer their nationality to their spouses and introduces important safeguards to preventstatelessnessdue to loss of nationality.[3]In August 2018, the National Assembly passed labour legislation protecting pregnant women from being fired.[7]Nonetheless, women still continuously experience discrimination in various facets, including access and consideration in employment, and inrates of payfor equal or like-for-like work.
Rape and domestic violence[edit]
The law criminalises the rape of men and women, inclusive ofspousal rape,and prescribes penalties for rape or forciblesexual assaultbetween 12 and 15 years imprisonment and fines up to 100,000Surinamese dollars(SRD).[9]Actions ofdomestic violencecan impose sentences of 4 to 8 years by law. Currently, violence against women remains a very serious and prevalent issue in Suriname, with police receiving over 513 reports of sexual abuse in 2018 and 102 cases ofdomestic abuse.[10]
The Victim Assistance Bureau of the Ministry of Justice and Police provide resources for victims of domestic violence and continue to raise awareness about domestic violence through public television programs.[7]Police units are professionally trained by authorities to assist in cases of sexual and domestic crimes, for both victim and perpetrator.[1]Shelters for victims and survivors of domestic violence are offered by The Victim Assistance Bureau, and manage on average 40 clientele a year.[9]The Office for Gender Affairs of the Ministry of Home Affairs launched an awareness campaign in May 2018 against domestic violence nationwide.[9]
Sexual harassment[edit]
There is currently no specific legislation onsexual harassment,however, prosecutors have cited various penal code articles in filing sexual harassment cases.[9]There are no reported court cases involving sexual harassment in the workplace.
Sexual exploitation[edit]
The commercial sexual exploitation of children, the sale of children,child prostitutionand practices related tochild pornographyis prohibited under Suriname law. The legal age of sexual consent is 14. Trafficking- inpersons legislation holds the sexual exploitation of a persons younger than 18 illegal. Suriname criminal law penalises persons responsible for the offering or procurement of child prostitution, with fines of up to SRD 100,000 and up to six years imprisonment.[1]Criminal Law prohibits child pornography, carrying fines up to SRD 50,000 and up to six years imprisonment.[6]
Indigenous and tribal rights[edit]
Suriname is the only country inthe Americasthat has not yet legally recognised the collective rights of the indigenous and tribal peoples to the lands and resources they actually occupy.[2]The individual indigenous and tribes and theMaroontribes, who are of African descent, are recognised by the Suriname government, but hold no separate status under national law, and no effective demarcation of their land.[11]
Maroons are tribal people in Suriname who are descendants of African slaves. They were brought to Suriname mainly in the 1600s and later fled the slave plantations and established independent communities in the interior where they now live in conditions comparable to indigenous tribes.[12]Maroons participate in regional governing bodies, as well as in the National Assembly, and were part of governing coalitions.[13]
ManyAmerindiansand Maroons live in rural and under-developed areas with minimal and restricted access to education, employment, and medical andsocialservices.[13]The groups participate in decisions affecting their tradition and culture, however are permitted limited influence over the decisions impacting the exploitation ofenergy,Minerals,timberand other natural resources on their traditional lands.[13]Thus, these populations continue to face problems regarding illegal and uncontrolled logging and mining. No laws grant the communities the right to share in the profit created from the exploitation of resources on their land.[11]
LGBTQI rights[edit]
The Suriname constitution prohibits various forms of discrimination, however does not addresssexual orientationorgender identity.[1]Both male and female, same sex sexual activity is legal in Suriname.Same-sex marriage,Civil unionsorDomestic partnershipsare yet to be recognised under national law.[10]Suriname is legally bound to the 2018Inter-American Court of Human Rightsruling, which holds that same-sex marriage is a human right protected by theAmerican Convention on Human Rights.[14]Under articles 175, 175a and 176 of the Surinamese Penal Code, the law prohibits discrimination andhate speechbased on sexual orientation, specifically protecting theLGBTQI community.[15]Violations are punishable by a fine or prison sentence up to one year.
Prisoner rights[edit]
Mistreatment by police[edit]
Under the Constitution, the practice oftortureand degrading treatment or punishment is illegal. However, human rights groups,defence attorneysand the media continuously report instances of mistreatment by the police, including unnecessary use of force during arrests and beatings in prisons.[1]The government has taken numerous steps to investigate, prosecute and punish officials who have violated the laws and committed human rights abuse, whether in security forces or elsewhere within the government. The public have continuously voiced concern that high public officials and security officers have impunity from enforcement.[16]
The law prohibits arbitrary or undue arrest and detention, and provides for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of their arrest or detention in court.[1]The government generally observes these prohibitions.
Physical conditions[edit]
Whilst seen to generally uphold international standards, Suriname's 26 detention centres have been seen as impoverished for a long time – the prison cells are over-crowded and understaffed. With a high prisoner-to-guard ration and lack ofEmergency exitsand evacuation drills, prison staff have no standard operating procedure and struggle to control inmates.[1]Hygienicconditions are also found to be generally poor; with inadequate lighting and ventilation, along with Flooding problems induce through poordrainagein various facilities.[1]
Refugee rights[edit]
As of September 2015, Suriname has not developed any independent national asylum or refugee legislation. However,Asylum seekersandRefugeesare provided the granting of status under Suriname law.[1]The country relies onUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR) to conduct registration and assign asylum seekers or refugees status in the country.[3]Once status has been verified, the government has established a system of providing protection to refugees; refugees or asylum seekers obtainresidency permitsunder the alien legislation law. TheSuriname Red Crosswas the local point of contact for those filing for refugee status with the UNHCR.[3]
Reference List[edit]
- ^abcdefghijklmConstitution of the Republic of Suriname. "The Constitution of the Republic of Suriname".Bulletin of Acts and Degrees 1987 No. 166.
- ^abcdKambel, Ellen-Rose (2007).Caribbean Land and Development Revisited.New York: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 69–80.ISBN9781349534609.
- ^abcdSubmission by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees For the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' Compilation Report Universal Periodic Review: 2nd Cycle, 25th Session – Suriname.UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). September 2015.
- ^abcdefghiUS Embassy (2018). "Suriname 2018 Humans Rights Report".2018 Human Rights Report – Suriname.
- ^ab"Suriname – Government and Society".Encyclopædia Britannica.Retrieved18 February2020.
- ^abUS Embassy. "Suriname 2017 Human Rights Report".2017 Human Rights Report – Suriname.
- ^abcvan der Ven, Johannes; Vernooij, Joop (22 December 2014). "The Religious Legitimacy of Socioeconomic Human Rights among Suriname Youth".Exchange.43(4): 360–378.doi:10.1163/1572543X-12341337– via Brill.
- ^ab"Child Labour and Forced Labour Reports".U.S. Department of Labour.
- ^abcdUnited Nations. "Concluding observations on the combined fourth to sixth period reports of Suriname".Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
- ^ab"Custom Report Excerpts: Suriname".U.S. Department of State.
- ^abPrice, Andrew. "The Maroon Population Explosion: Suriname and Guyane".New West Indian Guide.87.
- ^"Maroons- Minority Rights Group".Minority Rights Group International.2008.
- ^abcMacKay, Fergus (1999).The Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Maroons in Suriname.Copenhagen, Denmark: International Work Group For Indigenous Affairs.ISBN8790730178.
- ^Agence France-Presse."Inter-American Court endorses same-sex marriage".Yahoo7.Archived fromthe originalon 9 January 2018.
- ^Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights (October 2015)."Human Rights Situation for LGBTI Persons and Sexual Rights in the Republic of Suriname"(PDF).Ilga World.
- ^Padilla, David. "The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights: The Dominican Republic and Suriname".The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
