Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) - Suriname (Ratification: 1976)
Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 - Suriname (Ratification: 2019)

Articles 1(1), 2(1) and 25 of the Convention. Trafficking in persons. 1. Legal framework and law enforcement. The Committee notes that section 334 of the 2015 Penal Code prescribes penalties for trafficking in persons for both labour and sexual exploitation, from imprisonment of up to nine years and a fine of up to 1,000,000 Surinamese Dollars (approximately US$134,000). The Penal Code provides for higher penalties in aggravating circumstances, with the highest penalty being imprisonment of up to 24 years, if the act results in death. The Committee also notes from the 2018 concluding observations of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) the establishment of: (i) the Trafficking in Persons Unit in the police force to investigate cases of trafficking in persons; (ii) the Trafficking in Persons Desk in the Public Prosecutor’s Department; and (iii) the Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons within the Ministry of Justice and Police (CEDAW/C/SUR/CO/4-6, paragraph 28). The Committee notes from the same report that CEDAW raises concern at the limited capacity and responsiveness of the institutions created to monitor compliance with anti-trafficking laws, particularly in the interior of the country (paragraph 28). In this respect, the Committee noted, in its direct request on the application of the Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182), the training of district commissioners, immigration officials, and labour inspectors in identifying victims of trafficking. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to prevent and combat trafficking in persons, including the allocation of adequate human, material and financial resources to the dedicated Government entities, and to continue to provide information on the training provided to the law enforcement officers working in this area. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the application in practice of section 334 of the Penal Code, including the number of investigations, prosecutions and convictions, and to specify the penalties imposed.

2. Institutional framework. The Committee notes that, according to the 2018 concluding observations of CEDAW, the Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons developed the National Strategy and Action Plan to combat trafficking in persons, which were adopted in 2014 (paragraphs 4 and 28). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any measures adopted by the Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons, particularly regarding the implementation of the national strategy and action plan to combat trafficking in persons. It also requests the Government to provide copies of the National Strategy and Action Plan.

3. Assistance and protection for victims. The Committee refers to its direct request on the application of Convention No. 182, in which it notes the Government’s reference to an improved referral system between the criminal law enforcement authorities and the social services, and the provision of protection and support to victims of child labour and prostitution. The Committee also notes the observations made in 2016 by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC/C/SUR/CO/3-4, paragraph 21), and in 2018 by CEDAW (CEDAW/C/SUR/CO/4-6, paragraph 28) concerning doubts on the adequate staffing and funding of shelters, and the lack of information on the shelters available and the services provided by them. The Committee requests the Government to provide information regarding the protection of victims of trafficking in persons, including the number of victims identified, the types of assistance and services provided to them and the number who have benefited from such assistance and services.