UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 25) The Government of Suriname (Ministry of Labour, Employment Opportunity and Youth Affairs) has submitted the Bill on Equal Treatment in Employment to The National Assembly (the Parliament) in 2019. This Bill prohibits among others discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, LGBT individuals in the labour market and related labour issues.

UN Compilation:
Para 15) The United Nations country team stated that the Government of Suriname had not sufficiently taken the necessary steps to adopt legislative and other measures to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and that it had not intensified measures to prevent and sanction violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons. There were also no legal regulations that specifically addressed the status of transgender persons.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 10) JS1 stated that still little progress could be reported towards the enactment and adoption of necessary robust and comprehensive legislation and policies to effectively prevent and punish all forms of rights violations based on sexual orientation or gender identity in all settings.
Para 35) JS1 stated that the right to family life through marriage was exclusively guaranteed for couples of opposite sexes by Article 80 in conjunction with Article 138 of the Civil Code. It noted that the Civil Code was under review, but that so far no attention had been given to the aspect of discrimination on sexual orientation and gender identity of Article 80.

National Report:
Para 16) In 2013 and 2014, a couple of staff members of the National Bureau for Gender Policy received training in the following: gender equality and gender mainstreaming; development of gender indicators and the collection of data on gender; and conducting a survey. In 2014, the gender focal points of the various ministries, together with the UNDAP chairs, were also trained in a basic training on gender equality and gender mainstreaming.

National Report:
Para 12) Suriname acceded to the CRPD on 29 March, 2017.

National Report:
Para 133) In Suriname a study showed that, 62 maternal deaths and recorded 48,881 live births (maternal mortality ratio, 127/100,000 live births) between 2015-2019 were identified. Of the women who died, 14 of 62 (23%) were in poor condition when entering a health facility, whereas 11 of 62 (18%) died at home or during transportation. The maternal mortality ratio decreased over the years, (226 [n=64]; 130 [n=65]; and 127 [n=62]), with underreporting rates of 62%, 26%, and 24%, respectively in confidential enquiry into maternal deaths Figure I, II and III (see Annex 3). Of the women deceased, 36 (56%), 37 (57%), and 40 (63%) were of African descent; 46 (72%), 45 (69%), and 47 (76%) died after birth; and 47 (73%), 55 (84%), and 48 (77%) died in the hospital, respectively, in confidential enquiries into maternal deaths Figure I, II, and III. Significantly more women were uninsured in confidential enquiry into maternal deaths Figure III (15 of 59 [25%,]) than in confidential enquiry into maternal deaths Figure II (0%) and Figure I (6 of 64 [9%]). Obstetrical hemorrhage was less often the underlying cause of death over the years (19 of 64 [30%], vs 13 of 65 [20%], vs 7 of 62 [11%]), whereas all other obstetrical causes occurred more often in confidential enquiry into maternal deaths Figure III (eg, suicide [0; 1 of 65 (2%); 5 of 62 (8%)]) and unspecified deaths (1 of 64 [2%]; 3 of 65 [5%]; and 11 of 62 [18%] in confidential enquiry into maternal deaths Figure I, II and III respectively). Maternal deaths were preventable in nearly half of the cases in confidential enquiry into maternal deaths Figure II (28 of 65) and Figure III (29 of 62). Delay in quality of care occurred in at least two-thirds of cases (41 of 62 [65%], 47 of 59 [80%], and 47 of 61 [77%]) over the years.
Para 134) Suriname's maternal mortality rate has decreased throughout the past 3 decades, yet the trend is too slow to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 3.1. Preventable maternal deaths can be reduced by ensuring high-quality facility-based obstetrical and postpartum care, universal access to care especially for vulnerable women (of African descent and low socioeconomic class), and by addressing specific underlying causes of maternal deaths. Maternal Mortality Ratio per 100.000 was 51.10 in 2017 and 61.17 in 2018.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 50) JS1 stated that Suriname was one of the top five countries with the highest maternal mortality ratio, and that the rural interior had the highest ratio. The highest percentage of deaths was among Maroon women and women in poverty. It noted substandard care in health facilities and a lack of postnatal care.