Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

107th session

8–30 August 2022

Item 4 of the provisional agenda

Consideration of reports, comments and information submitted by States parties under article 9 of the Convention

List of themes in relation to the combined sixteenth to eighteenth reports of Suriname

Note by the Country Rapporteur

1.The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination decided at its seventy-sixth session that the Country Rapporteur would send to the State party concerned a short list of themes with a view to guiding and focusing the dialogue between the State party’s delegation and the Committee during the consideration of the State party’s report. The present document contains a list of such themes. It is not an exhaustive list; other issues may also be raised in the course of the dialogue. No written replies are required.

Statistics

2.Statistics on the demographic composition of the population, disaggregated by ethnic or national origin and languages spoken, as well as on migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons. Economic and social indicators on various groups living in the State party’s territory, disaggregated by national or ethnic origin, sex and age, particularly on indigenous peoples.

The Convention in domestic law and the institutional and policy framework for its implementation (arts. 1, 2, 4 and 6)

3.Measures taken to adopt a comprehensive anti-discrimination law, which includes a definition of direct and indirect discrimination and prohibits racial discrimination in line with articles 1, 2 and 4 of the Convention.

4.Information on steps taken to identify, combat and eradicate discrimination based on descent in certain communities, such as the caste system.

5.Measures taken to prohibit and punish racist hate speech, incitement to racial hatred or to racial discrimination, racist hate crimes and organizations that promote and incite racial discrimination, in line with article 4 of the Convention and on all grounds of discrimination mentioned in article 1 of the Convention. Information on whether racial motives are considered an aggravating circumstance under the Penal Code.

6.Information on complaints registered before courts or any other national institution for acts of racial discrimination, racist hate speech and racist hate crimes, including those perpetrated over the Internet and through media outlets, and on the number of investigations, prosecutions and convictions of perpetrators and on reparations provided to victims, if any.

7.Information on cases where the Convention has been invoked by domestic courts, in light of article 106 of the Constitution. Measures to facilitate the lodging of complaints of racial discrimination cases and measures to raise the awareness of members of the public of their rights under the Convention and the available complaint mechanisms and judicial remedies.

8.Measures to establish an independent national human rights institution that fully complies with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles), with adequate financial and human resources.

Situation of indigenous and tribal peoples (arts. 2 and 5)

9.Measures to develop and adopt specific legislation to protect the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples. Information on steps taken to combat structural discrimination against indigenous and tribal peoples and to guarantee their enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, and on the effective implementation of those steps.

10.Information on: (a) measures to adopt legislation to acknowledge and protect the collective rights of indigenous and tribal peoples to own, develop, control and use their lands, resources and communal territories, particularly in line with the mandate and work of the legal commission established in November 2018; (b) measures in place to ensure the right to consultation and free, prior and informed consent on administrative and legislative procedures affecting them, including in light of the directorates established under the Ministry of Regional Development; (c) the draft law on traditional authorities and how it reflects their customs and procedures.

11.The situation of indigenous and tribal peoples affected by the implementation of economic or natural resource exploitation and mining projects. Information on social, environmental and human rights impact assessments conducted prior to the granting of concessions or the planning of activities and the mandate of the National Institute for Environment and Development in Suriname. Steps in place to guarantee that national reserves established on ancestral territories of indigenous and tribal peoples allow for sustainable economic and social development.

12.Updated information on steps taken to: (a) ensure that no mercury is used or dispersed on territories occupied and used by indigenous and tribal peoples; (b) ensure access by the affected indigenous and tribal peoples in contaminated areas to clean water and health care and that they are entitled to effective remedies.

13.Measures taken to strengthen the effective participation and representation of indigenous and tribal peoples in public and political life. Steps taken to ensure the effective implementation of policies to guarantee access by indigenous and tribal peoples to education without discrimination, to increase their attendance rates and to reduce the drop-out rates of children. Measures to ensure access by indigenous and tribal peoples to justice and to recognize the collective legal personality of indigenous and tribal peoples.

Situation of migrants, asylum-seekers, refugees and stateless persons (arts. 2 and 5)

14.Information on measures taken to adopt a legislative framework on asylum-seekers and refugees that complies with international standards, and to ensure access to education, employment and health services without discrimination for all persons under the State’s jurisdiction. Measures to combat acts of racial discrimination targeting migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons.

15.Measures to prevent and protect against statelessness, including updated statistics on stateless persons and those at risk of statelessness, and to address childhood statelessness at birth. Information on measures taken to amend the Law on Nationality and Residence and the Aliens Act to align them with international standards.

16.Updated information on measures to combat trafficking in persons, including on the implementation of the respective national action plan (2019–2020) and its results as well as the development of the policy regarding child victims of trafficking. Measures to ensure that victims of trafficking are not criminalized or deported for acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked, and measures of redress and rehabilitation for victims.