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Suriname

https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/

June 2024

Landmark ruling is issued on Indigenous rights

In a landmark ruling, a Suriname court has halted development on hundreds of thousands of hectares of Amazon rainforest, inhabited mainly by Indigenous communities. The injunction was approved by a local court following the petition of 12 Indigenous and Maroon groups that claimed to be at risk of losing approximately 535,000 hectares of their ancestral land to agricultural development. The ruling emphasizes that the government cannot grant land without free, prior, and informed consent from local communities, as such projects could threaten burial grounds, hunting areas, and cultural traditions. Even though there had been previous rulings on the matter coming from international courts, this decision sets a new precedent in Suriname, recognizing territorial rights for Indigenous and local peoples for the first time in a local court.

Sources:  Minority Forum, Business and Human Rights Resource Center, Dagbladdewest

December 2023

Former President Botuerse’s murder conviction confirmed

A Surinamese court has confirmed the murder conviction of former President Desi Botuerse for his role in the “December killings” of 1982, in which political opponents were targeted and which took place during his military government. His prior sentence of 20 years imprisonment was upheld, and four other military officers were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for their participation. The ruling puts an end to the appeal process. In January, after Botuerse failed to surrender himself, Surinamese authorities issued an arrest warrant and requested an international arrest warrant for the former president.

Sources: Caribbean Today, Stabroek News, France 24, Caribbean National Weekly

February 2023

Protesters invade government building and loot businesses in Paramaribo

Mass anti-government protests erupted in Paramaribo on 17 February to demand the resignation of President Chandrikapersad Santokhi. The protests erupted after he issued a statement earlier this month revealing the government’s plans to introduce a new tax on imported goods and phase out state subsidies for gas, electricity, and fuel. The protest march of around 2,000 people began peacefully but turned violent after protestors stormed the National Assembly building, and subsequently took to rioting in the streets and looting shops. Protestors attacked the police and the incident resulted in more than 20 people injured and over 100 arrests. The government condemned the violence and took several measures that include a task force to find those responsible for attacking the parliament, set up of roadblocks, extra surveillance and checkpoints as well as a curfew in downtown Paramaribo.

Violence was condemned by leaders of Brazil and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), described as an “unacceptable assault on democracy” and several governments in the region have offered support to President Santokhi’s administration. The United Nations also issued a statement urging “all relevant actors in Suriname to show restraint and engage in inclusive dialogue to address constructively the challenges facing the country”.

Sources: Stabroek News, Caribbean Nation Weekly, Trinidad Express, Associated Press, Reuters

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Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2023

Chevron
Representation
52/173
Rights
47/173
Rule of Law
59/173
Participation
44/173
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Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
623 236
System of government
Presidential system
Head of government
President Chan Santokhi (since 2020)
Head of government party
Progressive Reform Party
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
List Proportional Representation
Women in lower or single chamber
31,4%
Women in upper chamber
Not applicable
Last legislative election
2020
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
4.15
Head of state
President Chan Santokhi
Selection process for head of state
Indirect election (if 2/3 majority not reached in assembly, election goes to assembly + regional/local representatives)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
01/11/2021
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
84.35%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
No Action
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
Regional Treaties
American Convention on Human Rights
State Party
Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
in
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Performance by category over the last 6 months

Representation neutral Representation
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Representation neutral Rights
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Representation neutral Rule of law
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Representation neutral Participation
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Global State of Democracy Indices

Hover over the trend lines to see the exact data points across the years

Explore the indices
Representation
Representation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
Rule of Law
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
Participation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

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