With regards to the number of children with disabilities, a national
UNICEF study conducted in Suriname in 2000 found that 1.3 percent of children
ages 1 to 8 have disabilities.4 This finding concurs with the 1980 Census, which
also estimated the rate of disabilities as 1.3% in children younger than 4, 1.4% in
children aged 5 to 9, 2.1% in children aged 10 to 14, and 2.5% in young persons
aged 15 to 19.5 The UNICEF study reported to use internationally accepted
sampling and questionnaire designs. However, only two districts in Suriname
were included in the sample. In light of the significant differences between the ten
districts of Suriname and their populations, the results cannot be extrapolated to
the national level.
Legislation & Disability Rights
Legal Protections
Suriname has not signed the Organization of American States Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities. Moreover, the Government of Suriname has not issued a statement in support of the creation of a United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The Ministry of Social Affairs reports that the United Nations Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for People with Disabilities serve as a guideline for Suriname's disability policy.6 In practice, however, Suriname's legislation is not in compliance with the UN Standard Rules.
There is no national law that specifically references and protects the rights of people with disabilities in Suriname. While there are general constitutional guarantees protecting human rights and prohibiting discrimination, these do not specifically mention people with disabilities. Article 8 of the 1987 Constitution was amended in 1992 and states "No one shall be discriminated against on the grounds of birth, sex, race, language, religious origin, education, political beliefs, economic position or any other status."7 In addition, Article 10 claims that "Everyone shall have, in case of infringement of one's rights and freedoms, a claim to an honest and public treatment of his complaint within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial judge."8
In case of violation of rights, any citizen of Suriname can submit a
complaint at the Attorney General's Office. According to the Ministry of Justice,
they are not aware of ever having received a complaint related to violation of
4. UNICEF, Situational Analysis of children with disabilities in the Caribbean - Suriname, (Barbados, 2000), 105.
5. "People with disabilities in Suriname."
6. Steven Powell (Scientific Research and Planning Division, Minstry of Social Affairs & Public Housing), interviewed by author.
7. 1987 Constitution of Suriname with Reforms of 1992, www.oas.org/juridico/MLA/ en/sur/en_ sur-int-text-const.pdf.
8. Ibid.