SURINAME: Children's Rights in UN Treaty Body Reports

Summary: This report extracts mentions of children's rights issues in the reports of all UN Treaty Bodies and their follow-up procedures. This does not include the Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child which are available here: http://www.crin.org/resources/treaties/index.asp

Please note that the language may have been edited in places for the purpose of clarity.

 


UN Human Rights Committee

CCPR/C/SUR/3

Last reported: 21 and 22 October 2015
Concluding Observations issued: 3 November 2015

Issues raised:

Minimum age of marriage: The Committee notes that in the course of the reporting period the minimum age of marriage was raised to 15 years for women and 17 years for men, and that a draft amendment to the Civil Code, currently being considered by the National Assembly, proposes setting a minimum age of 18 for both men and women. The Committee remains concerned that the current minimum age for marriage is too low and that it discriminates on the basis of sex (arts. 3, 23 and 24). (para 15)

The State party should eliminate discrimination on the basis of sex with regard to the minimum age for marriage. It should also amend its laws so as to bring the minimum age for marriage into line with international standards. (para 16)

Birth registration: The Committee is concerned that children born to irregular migrant parents are often not registered at birth due to a fear of arrest and/or deportation, putting children at risk of statelessness and hindering their access to essential social services such as health care and education (art. 24). (para 43)

The State party should adopt effective measures to overcome difficulties in civil registration and ensure that all children born in its territory are registered and receive an official birth certificate. It should also carry out campaigns to raise awareness on the importance of birth registration of all children, including children born to irregular migrant parents. (para 44)

Corporal punishment: The Committee observes that although corporal punishment is explicitly prohibited in the penal system, it continues to be prevalent and accepted in society (arts. 7 and 24). (para 45)

The State party should take practical steps, including through legislative measures, where appropriate, to put an end to corporal punishment of children in all settings. It should encourage non-violent forms of discipline as alternatives and should conduct public information campaigns to raise awareness about the harmful effects of corporal punishment. (para 46)

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CCPR/CO/80/SUR
Last reported: 17 / 18 March 2004
Concluding Observations issued: 30 March 2004

Issues raised:

Juvenile justice: The Committee is concerned about the compatibility with the Covenant of the low age of criminal responsibility in Suriname (10 years), having regard in particular to reliable information about the ill-treatment of children in detention and the long delays in pending trials. (Paragraph 17).

The State party should revise its legislation with regard to the age of criminal responsibility, which at its present level is unacceptable under international standards. The State party should inform the Committee as to how its practice complies with articles 10, paragraph 2 (b), 14, paragraph 4, and 24 of the Covenant.

Early marriage: The Committee is concerned that the current Asian Marriage Act provides for “arranged marriages” and sets the minimum age for marriage at 13 years for female and 15 years for male citizens of Asian descent. These ages are incompatible with articles 3 and 26 and article 24, paragraph 1, of the Covenant. Marriage at such a young age, and in particular arranged marriages, is also incompatible with article 23 of the Covenant, which stipulates that no marriage shall be entered into without the free and full consent of the intending spouses. While the State party submits that citizens of non-Asian descent also may marry under this Act, it has not responded to the Committee’s request for statistics on how many non-Asians have actually done so (arts. 23 and 24). (Paragraph 18).

The State party should take steps to change the current marriage legislation and to bring it into conformity with the Covenant.

Education: While noting the State party’s effort to establish a “nucleus centre” to provide schooling in the interior of the country, the Committee remains concerned at reports indicating that as few as 40 per cent of children living in the interior of the country attend primary school, thus depriving many children of the possibility of attending school on an equal footing with children in other parts of the country (art. 26). (Paragraph 19).

The State party should ensure that all children are afforded equal opportunities for access to schooling, and that school fees do not prevent them from receiving primary education.

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UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

E/C.12/1995/6
Last reported: 9 / 10 May 1995
Concluding Observations issued: 18 May 1995

Issues raised:

Early marriage: The Committee notes the inconsistency in the fact that while young persons in Suriname attain majority at the age of 21, men can marry from the age of 15 and women from the age of 13. The Committee notes with concern that the difference in the marriageable ages for men and women does not appear to conform with the provisions of articles 2 and 10 of the Covenant, nor does it appear to be compatible with articles 2 and 3 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child to which Suriname is also a state party. Moreover, the Committee expresses its deep concern about the possibility under Suriname law that a marriage partner can be appointed without his or her consent, which in general appears to disadvantageously affect women more often than men. (Paragraph 11).

The Committee recommends that the Government initiate programmes to educate the public so that traditional customs and attitudes that are discriminatory towards women be gradually modified and abolished. At the same time, the Committee urges the Government to ensure that all legislation be applied in a non-discriminatory manner and that laws which clearly discriminate against women be abolished. It particularly recommends that the laws permitting persons to marry without the acknowledgement or consent of the partner be abolished, that the problem of violence against women be legally addressed, and that general legislation regarding maternal benefits be enacted and enforced.

Health:  The Committee views with grave concern the problem of malnourishment of children in Suriname, which has been aggravated by the economic crisis. It is also concerned about the high mortality rates among children in the refugee camps and the inadequate education provided to these children. It further notes with concern the declining levels of vaccination coverage among the population. (Paragraph 14).

The Committee recommends that the Government seek international assistance with regard to the problem of malnutrition and declining vaccination coverage among the population.

Education: With respect to education, the Committee notes that education is provided only in Dutch, th official language of Suriname. It regrets that no efforts are being made by the Government to promote the use of Sranan Tongo, which is spoken by most Surinamese, or to preserve the native languages of the various indigenous groups. The Committee is further concerned that education provided in Dutch only may serve as a contributing factor to the high incidence of school drop-outs. (Paragraph 15).

With respect to education, the Committee recommends that the Government consider promoting the use of Sranan Tongo in schools and elsewhere and make efforts to preserve the native languages of indigenous groups. It further recommends that the Government undertake investigations into the phenomenon of school drop-outs.

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UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

CERD/C/SUR/CO/13-15

Last reported: 10 and 11 August 2015
Concluding Observations issued: 28 August 2015

Issues raised:

Migrants and refugees: The Committee is concerned about reports of discrimination experienced by regular and irregular migrants, in particular Haitians, in the enjoyment of their rights including access to, inter-alia, education, public health, medical care, social security and social services. The Committee regrets the absence of a national refugee law ensuring the adequate and effective protection of the rights of refugees. The Committee is also concerned at reports of child refugees having no birth certificate, one of the main requirements for access to education, healthcare and other social services in Suriname (art. 5). (para 19)

The Committee encourages the State party to take all measures required to ensure access to education, employment and health services without discrimination to all persons under its jurisdiction. The Committee recommends that the State party consider drafting and enacting a national refugee law. In line with Suriname’s international obligations under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol and bearing in mind its general recommendations No. 30 (2004) on discrimination against non-citizens and No. 22 (1996) on refugees and displaced persons, the Committee recommends that the State party remove administrative barriers and discriminatory practices that currently prevent children born to foreign parents from acquiring nationality at birth and introduce safeguards to prevent statelessness and address discriminatory practices in the application of its 1975 Law on Nationality and Residence, as amended, particularly in the context of birth registration. (para 20)

Access to Education: While taking note of the efforts made by the State party to improve access to education in the interior, the Committee reiterates its concern (CERD/C/SUR/CO/12, para.16) that no special measures are taken to preserve the languages of the country’s indigenous and tribal peoples, and that this is reflected in the area of education (arts. 5). (para 33)

The Committee reiterates its previous recommendation (CERD/C/SUR/CO/12 para. 16) and recommends that the State party take effective measures to ensure that children of indigenous and tribal peoples have access to an education which takes into account the need to preserve their languages and cultures and to consider introducing, as appropriate, the study of native languages. (para 34)

The Committee recommends that the State party take special measures to increase attendance rates and reduce the dropout rates of children belonging to indigenous and tribal peoples notably by: (a) Promoting the recruitment of teachers belonging to indigenous and tribal peoples, in particular in primary education, (b) Intensifying training of, and providing incentives for teachers in the interior, (c) Ensuring the availability of culturally appropriate textbooks, including in native languages, in schools with indigenous and tribal pupils, (d) Increasing outreach of scholarship programmes for indigenous pupils and students. (para 35)

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CERD/C/SUR/CO/12
Last reported: 24 / 25 February 2009
Concluding Observations issued: 4 March 2009

Issues raised:

No children's rights issues raised.

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UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

(CEDAW/C/SUR/3)
Last reported: 25 January 2007
Concluding Observations issued: 2 February 2007

Issues raised:

Human rights education: The Committee continues to be concerned about the persistence of patriarchal attitudes and deep-rooted stereotypes regarding the roles and responsibilities of women and men in the family and in society in Suriname, which are reflected in women’s educational choices, their situation in the labour market and their low level of participation in political and public life. The Committee is concerned about persistent stereotypes found in school textbooks and curricula. (Paragraph 17).

The Committee requests the State party to enhance the training of teaching staff in regard to gender equality issues and to revise educational textbooks and curricula to eliminate gender-role stereotypes. The Committee urges the State party to disseminate information on the Convention through the educational system, including human rights education and gender-sensitivity training, so as to change existing stereotypical views and attitudes about women’s and men’s roles. The Committee calls upon the State party to further encourage diversification of the educational choices of boys and girls. It also urges the State party to encourage a public dialogue on the educational choices girls and women make and their subsequent opportunities and chances in the labour market. It recommends that awareness-raising campaigns be addressed to both women and men and that the media be encouraged to project positive images of women and of the equal status and responsibilities of women and men in the private and public spheres.

Trafficking: While noting some measures taken to combat trafficking in persons, including the establishment of a Committee on Trafficking in Persons and amendments to the Penal Code regarding trafficking in persons, the Committee is concerned about the lack of information regarding the extent of trafficking in women and girls in Suriname and the absence of adequate measures taken to address that issue. The Committee is concerned about the exploitation of prostitution in both urban and rural centres and the absence of efforts to combat that phenomenon. (Paragraph 21).

The Committee urges the State party to adopt necessary legislation and develop a comprehensive anti-trafficking strategy and plan of action to combat that phenomenon. Steps should include the collection and analysis of data, including from the police and international sources, the prosecution and punishment of traffickers and measures to prevent trafficking and for the rehabilitation and social integration of women and girls who are victims of trafficking. The Committee requests the State party to ensure the effective prosecution and punishment of those who exploit prostitution. The Committee urges the State party to pursue a holistic approach in addressing the question of prostitution and, in particular, to provide women and girls with education and economic alternatives to prostitution. The Committee requests the State party to provide, in its next report, comprehensive information and data on trafficking in women and girls, on exploitation of prostitution and on the measures taken to prevent and combat such activities, including their impact. The Committee recommends that, in those matters, the State party pay special attention to the situation of Maroon women. (Paragraph 22).

Health: The Committee reiterates its concern about the provisions in the Penal Code regarding family planning, including prohibiting the display and offering of contraceptives, and the restriction on abortion, although the provisions are not enforced. The Committee is concerned about the high maternal mortality rates and the prevalence of teenage pregnancy. The Committee also reiterates its concern about the increasing HIV/AIDS infection rates of women and girls, including women in the interior and in rural areas. (Paragraph 29).

The Committee reiterates its recommendation that the laws restricting family planning activities and abortion services, which are “dead letter” laws, be repealed. It urges the State party to take concrete measures to enhance and monitor access to health-care services for women, including in the interior and in rural areas, in accordance with article 12 of the Convention and the Committee’s general recommendation 24 on women and health. It requests the State party to strengthen measures aimed at the prevention of unwanted pregnancies, especially among teenagers. Such measures should include making widely available, without any restriction, a comprehensive range of contraceptives and increasing knowledge and awareness about family planning. The Committee requests the State party to include in its next report detailed and statistical information on women’s health and on the impact of measures it has taken to improve women’s health and access to health-care services, including family planning, and about the impact of those measures on reducing maternal mortality rates and teenage pregnancy rates. The Committee recommends that the State party step up its efforts to prevent and combat HIV/AIDS and improve the dissemination of information about the risks and ways of transmission. It recommends that the State party include a gender perspective in all its policies and programmes on HIV/AIDS. It calls upon the State party to ensure the effective implementation of its HIV/AIDS strategies and to provide detailed and statistical information about women and HIV/AIDS in its next report.

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UN Committee against Torture

Not yet signed or ratified.

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UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture

No visits undertaken.

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UN Committee on Migrant Workers

Not yet signed or ratified.

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UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Ratified in 2007, but not yet reported.

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UN Committee on Enforced Disappearance

Not yet signed or ratified.

Countries

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