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Suriname - Third periodic report of States parties [2005] UNCEDAWSPR 13; CEDAW/C/SUR/3 (9 June 2005)

Committee on the Elimination of

Discrimination against Women

Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

Third periodic report of States parties

Suriname*

* The present report is being issued without formal editing. For the combined initial and second periodic report submitted by the Government of Suriname, see CEDAW/C/SUR/1-2, which was considered by the Committee at its twenty-seventh session.

Contents

A. INTRODUCTION

As mentioned in the previous report, Suriname ratified to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1993 (Instrument of Ratification submitted to the Secretary General of the United Nations, S.G. no. LA41TR/221/1 (4-8) of 21 April 1993). In virtue of Article 27 of the Constitution, this Convention came into force for Suriname on 31 March 1993 (VB. 1999, no. 2). With the ratification of this Convention, Suriname committed itself to ensure that all forms of discrimination against women is eliminated and that the principle of gender equality is included in its national legislation. The combined initial and second report for the period 1 April 1993 through 31 December 1998 was submitted, and presented to the CEDAW Committee of the United Nations in June 2002. The present, third report covers the reporting period 1 January 1999 through 31 March 2002. In the compilation of this third progress report the choice has again been made for wide consultations with government and non-governmental organizations. The draft report was discussed extensively with representatives of government and NGOs at a conference in June 2004. In accordance with the guidelines of the CEDAW Committee, this third report covers the national legislation and the policy of government and NGOs since the previous reporting period.

Suriname has further signed the Convention of Vienna on Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Beijing Declaration and Beijing Platform for Action, and the Convention of Belem do Para concerning the Elimination of Violence against Women. In doing so, the country recognizes the importance of human rights. The Government of Suriname has committed itself not only to eliminate all forms of discrimination of women, but also to achieve complete equality and equity of men and women in the society.

In the Multi-annual Development Plan (M.O.P.) of the Government for 2001-2005 gender mainstreaming is mentioned, among other things, as a policy measure to ensure complete participation of women in social processes; to improve provisions for primary health care in order to ensure that these are better available to women and children throughout the country and to people in outlying areas; to establish and implement a rational social policy and protect the most vulnerable groups in society, among which women are identified as one of the target groups.

The National Gender Policy Bureau was established as a department of the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1997, and was opened in 1998. This institute was given the task to promote and monitor gender equality in Suriname. In March 2000, the National Gender Policy Bureau organized a national women’s conference, during which progress was discussed with respect to the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, as well as the framework for a national plan of action for the next five years. In June 2001, the Ministry of Home Affairs presented its Gender Mainstreaming Plan for the Government, which indicated the activities to be undertaken by the respective Ministries during the government’s term of office 2000 – 2005 to apply a gender perspective in the entire national and sectoral policy. In November 2001 the National Gender Policy and the Integrated Gender Plan of Action 2000 – 2005 were presented, the framework of which had been discussed during the women’s conference in 2000. The Integrated Gender Plan of Action includes the activities mentioned in the Gender Mainstreaming Plan for the Government and the activities that the NGOs considered priorities for the next years.

The Integrated Gender Plan of Action 2000 – 2005 mentions the following areas:

♦ Integration of gender in national policy and in all plans and projects;

♦ Capacity building in gender planning, conducting gender studies and gender analyses;

♦ Creating equal and equitable opportunities for men and women and elimination discrimination against women;

♦ Recognition that women’s rights are special human rights;

♦ Combating all forms of violence against women;

♦ Encouraging the participation of women at all levels and in all sectors;

♦ Positive discrimination with respect to the number of women in executive positions;

♦ A start of making gender and impact analyses of the macro-economic policy;

♦ Promoting sustainable development and poverty eradication;

♦ Consultations with NGOs on priority issues.

In October 2001, the Ministry of Home Affairs published an assessment of four conventions, namely, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Inter-American Convention on Awarding Civil Rights to Women, and the Inter-American Convention on Awarding Political Rights to Women. The conventions were studied and a comparison was made with the national legislation. The assessment presented the shortcomings and necessary adjustments of the national legislation, highlighted discriminatory provisions in the laws, and made recommendations to eliminate shortcomings or make adjustments. The National Gender Policy Bureau concluded that a lot still needed to be done to improve the discriminatory position of women in Suriname. It was recommended that positive discrimination be introduced or increased and that everything necessary should be done to eliminate all discriminatory provisions against women in the existing laws as soon as possible. The report made specific recommendations for violence against women, namely that the Government should be involved more intensively with the problem of violence through regular public awareness activities, targeting young women and girls, and by setting up a database on domestic violence, so as to make an inventory of the phenomenon together with the actors concerned, and make it possible to develop a proper approach.

The National Gender Policy Bureau will be strengthened in order to monitor the national gender policy. At the same time, a network of gender coordination points within the different Ministries will be set up and maintained. The National Gender Policy Bureau will continue to facilitate the NGOs, in particular the women’s organizations, but will also be responsible for giving advice and technical assistance to the different Ministries in developing and expanding the gender focal points.

In comparison with the previous reporting period, quite a lot of programmes, projects and activities for women and children were implemented. These ensued from government policy, which was directed towards improving the situation of women and children in Suriname, and from a number of programmes of international organizations, which supported the government policy. Mention can be made of the Micro Projects Programme of the European Union; the Community Development Fund Suriname (CDFS), which was set up with support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); the NGO Fund, the multiannual country programme of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Government (January 1998 through December 2002). The 5-year Caribbean Gender Equality Programme of CIDA supported the implementation of the above initiatives as well.

Furthermore, the 3-year programme of the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) was executed between October 1998 and January 2002. This programme was very important in promoting equality of men and women in Suriname, and aimed at building the capacity of the Government, in particular the National Gender Policy Bureau, to formulate policy for women, and played an essential part in helping to formulate the National Gender Policy, the Integrated Gender Plan of Action, and the Gender Mainstreaming Plan for the Government, and in helping to establish a network for violence against women. This programme also contributed to increasing public awareness on CEDAW.

It is, therefore, not surprising that different surveys and studies were undertaken in the course of this reporting period, which provided a better insight into the situation of women and children, and which were very useful in drawing up the current report, since they provided information and data which were not previously available. Thus, the current report is again an extensive report and provides details, which were not previously available. Mention must be made of the following documents that were indispensable to gaining an insight into the situation of women in Suriname:

• Multiple Indicator Cluster System (MICS) in 2000, a product of the UNICEF-programme in collaboration with the Government, which provided basic data from different sectors with which the situation of children in Suriname could be assessed.

• National Report on the World Summit for Children (April 2001), which gives the situation of children in Suriname on the basis of the goals formulated during the World Summit of 1989.

• The Situation Analysis of Women in Suriname (2000/2001), a product of the UNIFEM-programme, which provides basic data and an analysis of the situation of women in Suriname.

• Selected Gender Statistics, a product of the General Statistics Bureau^[1] in the framework of a project of CARICOM and the UN Statistics Division (UNSD), whose purpose was to give an impetus towards providing information on gender.

B. SOCIO-ECONOMIC SKETCH OF SURINAME

Political Structure

Suriname became a colony of the Netherlands in 1667. A people’s representative was introduced in 1866, while general suffrage for men and women was introduced in 1948. The first political parties were formed shortly after the First World War, and the first general elections were held in 1949. Suriname acquired autonomous status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1954 and became independent on 25 November 1975. Both before and after independence, politics in Suriname were run by a large number of coalition parties, which were often founded on ethnic lines. After the military coup d’etat of 25 February 1980, the military remained in power until 1987. The general elections of 1987 brought a civilian government to power again until 24 December 1990, when another coup d’etat took place. General, free and fair elections thereafter took place in 1991, 1996 and 2000.

As mentioned in the previous report, the present Constitution of Suriname dates from 1987 and was last amended in 1992. The democratic structures are the same as described in the previous report. The Republic of Suriname is a democratic state, based on the sovereignty of the people and on respect for rights and freedoms (Constitution of the Republic of Suriname, Article 1 paragraph 2). The political power rests with the people and is implemented in accordance with the Constitution (Article 52 paragraph 1). The political democracy is characterized by participation and representation of the people of Suriname in establishing a democratic political system as well as participation in legislation and administration, directed towards maintaining and expanding this system (Article 52 paragraph 2). The Republic of Suriname is a decentralized non-federal state; the democratic structure consists of a regional level of government services, whose function, organization, competencies and procedures are laid down by law and are in accordance with the principles of participatory democracy and decentralization of government and legislation (Article 159).

Natural Resources

Suriname has the following natural resources: timber, potential hydroelectric power, fish, shrimp, bauxite, oil, iron ore, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper and platinum. The main export products are bauxite, alumina, oil, rice, vegetables, shrimp, fish and fish products, timber and timber products.

Environment

Suriname has a unique place in the world because of its rich rain forests and biodiversity. By State Decree no. 65 in 1998, over 1.6 million hectares of primary tropical rain forest in western central Suriname were established as the Central Suriname Nature Reserve. This reserve connects three important protected areas of Central Suriname – the Raleighvallen nature reserve in the North, the Tafelberg nature reserve in the center and the Eilerts de Haangebergte in the South. The establishment of the Central Suriname Nature Reserve is the cornerstone of Suriname’s commitment to development on the basis of environmental protection and gives Suriname a new leadership role in the conservation of tropical biodiversity in the world. On 29 November 2000, the UNESCO world heritage committee in Sidney, Australia, decided to inscribe the Central Suriname Nature Reserve on the World Heritage List.

Suriname is also party to a number of international and regional treaties and conventions, which recognize the necessity for the protection of the environment. The most important of these are: the Convention on the International Trade in Threatened wild Flora and Fauna (1973); the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (1978); the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992); and the Framework Treaty on Climate Change (1992). The Ministry of Labor, Technological Development and Environment coordinates and implements the national policy on the environment. In 2002, the Minister installed a new National Environment Council, which advises the Government on its environmental policy.

Social Benefits

Suriname has a number of social benefits: old-age pension, child allowance, health insurance through the State Health Insurance Fund or private insurers, medical care and financial assistance. The total number of children for whom the Government pays child allowance annually has decreased throughout the years, while the number of persons who receive old-age pension annually has increased. People who are in financial need, can receive medical care and financial assistance. The financial assistance can be provided to an individual or to a household, while the amount of assistance depends on the size of the household. Although the amounts of the different benefits have been adjusted throughout the years, there have not been substantial adjustments. More details are provided under Article 13 of this report.

Table B.1: General data of Suriname

Source: General Bureau of Statistics, Statistical Yearbook 2000

Table B.2: Main export products
expressed in percentages of total exports

Sources: Central Bank of Suriname; General Bureau of Statistics

PART I

Articles 1 and 2

Definition of discrimination and suitable measures

The previous CEDAW report already stated that the principle of equality of men and women is laid down in the Constitution of the Republic of Suriname. In the Government Declaration 2000 – 2005 the Government of Suriname stated that the national legislation should be brought in accordance with the conventions, which regulate the rights of women. In the Gender Mainstreaming Plan of Action for the Government of Suriname (June 2001) the following action point was included:

“Set up structures and start to bring national legislation in accordance with – and aimed at compliance with – treaties regulating the rights of women”.

In August 2001, the Committee on Gender Legislation was installed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, whose task included adjustment of national legislation, which, among other things, is in contradiction of the principles of the Constitution and CEDAW. The previous CEDAW report mentioned the laws that were in contravention of CEDAW. This initial report also stated that a draft amendment of the Penal Code had been drawn up, which recommended that the term “sex” be included in the articles, which would prohibit discrimination on the basis of one’s sex. The Council of Ministers approved of this draft in 1993 and the Minister of Justice and Police sent the draft to the State Council for advice. In accordance with the legal procedures, after the draft has passed the State Council, it should be sent to the National Assembly for discussion and adoptation. This has not yet taken place.

Meanwhile, the Committee on Gender Legislation made recommendations to amend or abolish legal regulations that are discriminatory to women. The following draft amendments of articles concerned were submitted to the Minister of Home Affairs:

• Amendment of the Personnel Act, whereby Article 15, paragraph 1a shall be abolished, as a result of which the impediment to a woman attaining a permanent appointment is abolished; the right to salary during maternity leave is maintained (Art. 45, para. 4). Article 45 paragraph 4 shall be amended, as a result of which the female civil servant has the right to salary during this period of maternity leave; Article 47 paragraph 9 shall be amended, to abolish the unfair treatment of women for reasons of their reproductive nature, in the calculation of the period of active service; Article 69 paragraph 3, shall be abolished, which stated that the female civil servant could be dismissed upon entering into marriage.

• Amendment of Art. 4 of the Decree on Travel and Secondment (G.B. 1944 no. 84, as amended by S.B. 1993 no. 8), whereby female civil servants shall acquire equal positions as male civil servants.

• Addition to the Penal Code , which will include provisions to make domestic violence punishable, as well as more protection for victims. Awaiting the finalization of the special law on domestic violence, the Gender Legislation Committee has already recommended adjustments.

• Stalking will be made punishable in a separate law.

The draft amendments of the Penal Code Art 383a sub 3 (G.B. 1860, as last amended by S.B. 1983 no. 117) have been stayed in connection with the entry into force of the law on the Review of the Marriage Act of 1973, because many things that required revision have been removed by the revised Marriage Act. The amendment of the Accident Regulation Art. 6 paragraph 3 (G.B. 1947 no. 145, as last amended by S.B. 1983 no. 8) with respect to recognition of concubinage for payment of the breadwinner is on the list of priorities and a special committee will be installed for this matter. The Holiday Act Art. 8 paragraph 2 (S.B. 1975 no. 164c) is also a priority. The process for amending the State Decree in executing the Identity Act appendix I (S.B. 1976 no. 10) and the Nationality and Residence Act Articles 3, 8 paragraphs 3 and 6; 10 and 12 through 15 (S.B. 1975 no. 4, as last amended by S.B. 1989 no. 29), has commenced.

Amendment of the Election Act (S.B. 1987 no. 70, as last amended by S.B. 1987 no. 84) has not yet taken place, but the Committee on Gender Legislation is currently studying the required amendments. A Committee on Integral Evaluation of the Elections of 2000 was established by the Registry Office, which has been involved in the evaluation of the Electoral Regulations. According to the committee article 41 (married women on the list of candidates are placed under the name of the husband or late husband) is not in accordance with Articles 10 paragraph 2, and 23 paragraph 3 and 4 of the Civil Code.

The Committee on Gender Legislation prepared amendments of the Penal Code and the Civil Code. The proposed amendments of the Penal Code have been sent to the Ministry of Justice for screening. The Committee also prepared a bill on equal treatment of men and women and a bill on the establishment of a complaints bureau. These bills require further refining. The purpose of the complaints bureau is to receive complaints concerning compliance with the law on equal treatment of men and women. The bureau will also be given the task to conduct research and give advice, which aim at achieving corrective action. In comparison with the previous reporting period, in general gender has become more visible in policymaking.

Article 3

Human rights

The initial report mentioned the human rights conventions and treaties, which have been ratified and signed by Suriname. The Convention of Belém do Para on the Prevention of Violence Against Women, should be added to this list, since Suriname ratified this convention on 13 December 2001 and ratification thereof followed on 19 February 2002. The Integral Gender Plan of Action 2000 – 2005 of the National Gender Policy of Suriname includes the amendments of discriminatory laws mentioned in Article 2 above, and also mention the following actions to be taken to improve the human rights of women:

• Install a multidisciplinary working group to realize a national maternity regulation and financing thereof. This is particularly important for small enterprises, for maternity leave is regulated in the civil service and in most collective labor agreements of large enterprises.

• Review the decree on the removal of incapacity to act by married women, so as to remove the loopholes, which still exist.

• Make women aware of their rights, their possibilities on the labor market and their position through awareness and education programs, training and through the media, using local languages. This will enable women to make conscious choices.

• Conduct studies and surveys to consult the people’s opinion on legislation and rights in regard of maternity leave, concubinage, pensions, marriage, and violence, among other things.

• General awareness programs on human rights of women, also aimed at the youth, the interior and the districts.

During the implementation of the UNIFEM-program, gender-training programs for civil servants were initiated, while the National Women’s Movement developed a CEDAW brochure in easy Dutch in 1999 to provide general information on CEDAW for the general public. Other important initiatives which were taken by the Government were the publication of the brochure Wat is Gender Mainstreaming (transl.: What is Gender Mainstreaming?) in June 2001 for policymakers, and promotion of gender policy through a series of visits to districts, during which the Government was represented at the highest level by the President of the Republic of Suriname, the First Lady, representatives of The National Assembly, Ministers and local government officials. In the speeches and activities of the government delegation, the focus was on promotion of gender equality, prevention of domestic violence and increased collaboration with civil society in both areas. The brochure on Gender Mainstreaming and the Integrated Gender Action Plan are being translated into English for further distribution, in particular in the region.

In early 2002 the Government started the construction of an office in the District of Nickerie, which would make it possible to decentralize facilities to provide assistance to victims of domestic violence. The office and staff will be made available to the Foundation Stop Violence Against Women. The Platform of Women’s Organizations, which was formed in 2001 as a network of collaboration among six intermediary organizations, proclaimed the campaign ‘Land for Women’ in March 2002. A petition was handed to the Minister concerned, which centered attention on priorities to adhere to women’s rights and to remove existing inequality and negative trends in the situation of women. At the initiative of the Women’s Rights Center a committee was formed, comprising legal and gender experts from NGOs, the Anton de Kom University of Suriname and the Ministry of Justice and Police, which began the formulation in mid-2001 of a special law on domestic violence, and a training on domestic violence was organized for magistrates and lawyers in March 2003 with the assistance of external experts.

Article 4
Positive discrimination

The Gender Mainstreaming Action Plan of the Government of Suriname (June 2001) mentions the following points:

• Remove high gender inequality in the Judiciary through positive discrimination of women in the selection of persons to be trained as magistrates.

• Study possibilities to increase participation of women in politico-administrative bodies, in High Organs of State, and in senior management positions in civil service.

• Take the initiative to remove gender inequality in diplomatic service.

• Increase awareness of gender inequality on the labor market and improve access of women to the labor market.

The Ministry of Justice and Police recruited a policy advisor, who, in deliberation with other institutions, will set up the training of magistrates and develop the curriculum. The approach of positive discrimination of women was used, with due attention for guaranteeing the quality requirements: 9 women and 1 man were selected for further training.

In March 2001, the President of the Republic of Suriname, the Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of Foreign Affairs signed the support form of the 50/50 campaign of the United Nations, which was coordinated by the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO). They thus committed themselves – in line with the Beijing Platform for Action – to increasing the political power of women numerically. In Suriname the 50/50 campaign was a joint action of the women’s organizations, led by the Women’s Parliamentary Forum. The Government has committed itself to increase the capacity of the potential of female diplomatic cadre and use positive discrimination for the time being by nominating more women candidates for diplomatic posts. There is now heightened awareness of the importance of participation of women at the international level and slight progress has been made. But there are still too few Surinamese women at this level. Unfortunately, the greatest impediment to removing gender inequality is still the influence of the political parties in the national political culture in the nomination and selection of candidates for politico-administrative organs, high organs of state, diplomatic service, and senior management positions in civil service. There is still discrepancy between legislation and policy on the one hand, and practice on the other hand.

In the past years, there has been an increase in the number of working and job-seeking women in Suriname. The total number of working people in the Districts of Paramaribo and Wanica according to the Statistical Year Book (November 2000) of the General Bureau of Statistics was 85,713, of which 29,299 men and 56,414 women (ca. 65%). In 1998 the total number of working people was 88,816, of which 28,557 women (ca. 32%). The Department for Employment Mediation of the Ministry of Labor, Technological Development and Environment registered the following data for job seekers between 1999 and 2002.

Table 4.1: Number of registered job-seekers in the period 1999 - 2002

Source: Ministry of Labor, Technological Development and Environment

Article 5

Elimination of prejudices

Nothing has changed in this respect, and Suriname still holds the view that cultural traditions of the different ethnic groups may never be in contravention of the fundamental rights and freedoms of women, as laid down in international conventions. Elimination of prejudices is not included in the legislation of Suriname. It is up to NGOs and international organizations to try to change cultural traditions that may be in contravention of the conventions. In practice, there are still prejudices and stereotyping of women in the different cultures.

Article 6

Trafficking of women

Analyses of the trafficking of women, pimping and prostitution cannot yet be made, for there is still insufficient systematic qualitative and quantitative information available. The trafficking of women and pimping are both punishable in Suriname. Although the trafficking of women is not visible, there is the impression among the authorities and women’s organizations that trafficking of women does occur, in particular among foreign prostitutes, who are recruited on false promises. A special committee will be formed to look into trafficking of people in general. This committee will recommend policy measures and legislative measures, as well as guidelines, procedures for police and institutions. In practice, policy and legislation are not synchronous. The situation in Suriname with regard to prostitution has remained the same since the last report: there is still no official government policy and the exploitation and prostitution of women have not yet been included in the law.

PART II

Article 7

Political and public life

According to Articles 41, 57 and 73 of the Electoral Regulations married women who are nominated should be registered under the name of the husband or deceased husband. There is a similar provision for the registration of women in the electoral register (Art. 15 of the Electoral Regulations). These articles were not amended in the present reporting period.

The proportion of male and female voters is more or less 50%. The share of women in the boards of the political parties increased in comparison with the previous reporting period from 15% to 20%. None of the 14 active political parties has a specific women’s department in the party structures.

The position of women in government and the legislative bodies is demonstrated by the following:

- In the period 1996-2000 the speaker of the National Assembly was a woman, but in the period 1999 - 2002 this is no longer the case;

- In three consecutive administrative periods the deputy speaker of the National Assembly was a woman;

- 10 of the 51 parliamentarians in the reporting period was a woman (20%), which is an increase of 4% in comparison with the period 1996-2000;

- 2 of the 16 Ministers was a woman (13%), which is an increase of 6% in comparison with 1998;

- there is 1 female Deputy -Minister for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing (similar position in 1998);

- the Minister of Home Affairs, who is also responsible for gender policy, in this administrative period (since 2000) is a woman;

- the Minister of Foreign Affairs in this administrative period (since 2000) is a woman.

Cultural factors in general form the basis for the unequal participation of men and women in public and political life. The influence of activities of women’s organizations, and in particular the Women’s Parliamentary Forum, is evident in the increase of the number of female candidates for the National Assembly and the increase in the number of female parliamentarians since the 1996 elections.

Table 7.1: Composition of boards of political parties, 1999 and 2002

Source: Ministry of Home Affairs

Table 7.2: Composition of politico-administrative organs 1991, 1996, 2000

Source: Ministry of Home Affairs

Table 7.3: Parliamentarians from 1973 to 2000

Source: Ministry of Home Affairs

*Note: after the military coup d’ etat of 1980, the Constitution was abolished.

The participation of women in public and political life is still limited. Although no qualitative studies have been conducted on the causes, the following impediments are evident:

- women are responsible for the reproductive tasks in their family;

- a lack of adequate provisions for childcare throughout the day, i.e. mornings, afternoons and evenings;

- a lack of a specific policy and programmes from the government and political parties, directed towards increasing the number of women in political and senior management positions.

The position of women in the High Organs of State decreased in comparison with the previous reporting period. There is a total decrease from 28% to 23%. The decrease was highest in the Advisory Council, from 15% to 5%. In the Audit Office and Labor Advisory Board, the percentage of women remained the same, while the percentage of women in the Election Board rose from 22% to 44%. The chairing positions in all of these organs have always been men.

Table 7.4: Participation in Constitutional High Organs of State, 1991 - 2002

Source: Ministry of Justice and Police, 2002

The share of female lawyers and civil law notaries increased in this reporting period from respectively, 25% to 33% and from 10% to 22%. We expect this trend to continue, in view of the relatively high number of female students registered in the sub-Faculty of Law of the University of Suriname.

Table 7.5: Practicing attorneys at law, 1998 through 2002

Source: Foundation for Juridical Collaboration Suriname-Netherlands;

From: Vademecum voor de Rechtspraktijk 2003

Table 7.6: Practicing civil law notaries, 1990 through 2002

Source: Association of Civil Law Notaries

As per 2002, the senior positions in the Police Corps of Suriname comprised 93 men and 11 women (10.6%). The total number of female Permanent Secretaries of Ministries is the same as in the previous reporting period, i.e. 4 of the 16, or 25%. The female Permanent Secretaries are in the Ministries of Social Affairs; Health; Transportation, Communication and Tourism; and Regional Development.

At the regional level, the administration is divided into legislative and executive bodies as well. The District Councils are legislative bodies and the District Commissioner’s offices are executive bodies. The President appoints a District Commissioner for each District, who also chairs the District Council and heads the Commissioner’s office. The District Commissioner (D.C.) is assisted by District Secretaries (D.S.), deputy Secretaries (Adj. Secr.), administrative supervisors (B.O.), deputy supervisors (O.B.O.) and assistant supervisors (Ass. B.O.). Each district is divided into administrative jurisdictions, each with its own local council. The districts (10) currently have a limited mandate, namely the maintenance of secondary and tertiary infrastructure (roads, irrigation, drainage); management of public markets; potable water supply; fire brigade provisions; local planning and budgeting; maintaining local public order; supervision of public health (incl. burial grounds).

The position of women in the regional administration has improved in comparison with 1998, in the sense that the number of women proportionally increased in the positions of District Secretary (6%), Deputy Secretary (6%) and Deputy Supervisor (12%). The number of female supervisors remained more or less the same. Only in the highest and lowest positions there was a decrease: the percentage of female district commissioners decreased from 14% to 9%, and the percentage of assistant supervisors from 53% to 47%.

Table 7.7: Composition of regional administration per district and position in 2002

Source: Ministry of Regional Development

The total number of women enrolled in civil service training in 1998/1999 was 213 (91%). This percentage decreased in 2001 and 2002 to 89%.

Table 7.8: Civil servants enrolled in training courses, 1999-2002

V.A.A.O.= Advanced General Training for Civil Servants

Source: Ministry of Home Affairs

In 1994, the share of women in the civil service was 35%, while in 2002 this increased to 50% (18,145 of the 36,251 civil servants). The percentages among the lower, middle, higher and top positions were resp., 47%, 38%, 67% and 41% (see also under Art. 11).

Table 7.9: Civil servants per ministry according to level, 2002

Source: Cebuma 2002

Although the number of women enrolled in higher educational institutions increased considerably in the past years, and the number of female students enrolled in university now surpasses the number of male students, this is not reflected in the increase in the number of women in top positions of decision-making. According to the Situation Analysis of Women in Suriname (2001), there are only 9% women in higher positions in University, 17% in the National Assembly, 19% in Government, 14% in boards of political parties, 5% of the medical specialists, 8% in diplomatic service. In 2001, the National Gender Policy Bureau developed a gender-mainstreaming plan, which should eventually lead to a national policy on gender equality in all sectors and all Ministries. The low involvement of women in decision making at the highest political levels is in great contrast with their active and often leading role at the community level. In many villages and other small communities it is often women’s groups or women in community organizations who initiate and manage development projects.

The Women’s Parliamentary Forum (VPF) started a 50/50 campaign, directed towards equal representation of women in policy and decision making positions, and towards enhancing gender awareness among men and women. In the framework of this campaign, signatures were collected, including those of the President and the Minister of Home Affairs. To enhance gender awareness, VPF will organize a gender trainers’ course for political parties, so that they can have their own cadre trained to provide gender training within their own parties. The Ministry of Home Affairs supported an initiative of VPF in 2002 to initiate discussions on a gender-sensitive budgeting. Gender focal points of different ministries participated in a workshop on this subject in November of that year. The workshop was financed by UNIFEM-Caribbean and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Suriname.

Article 8
International participation

Although there is an increased awareness of representation and participation of women at the international level and there has been a slight improvement, Surinamese women are not yet sufficiently represented at this level. The Republic of Suriname has 16 representations, of which 10 Embassies (1 of these also functions as the permanent representation with the Organization of American States), 4 consulates and 1 Permanent Representation with the United Nations.

In 2001, the first female ambassadors of Suriname were appointed, while in the entire reporting period 3 women were appointed as Consuls. In this period, two women held responsibility in the Permanent Representations with the Organization of American States and the United Nations. The number of female representatives in the period 1999-2002 increased excessively in comparison with 1998 (from 5 to 15, i.e. 200%). The high numbers of diplomats in, particularly the positions of Ambassador and Consul, ensue from mutations that took place during the reporting period. As per December 2002 there were 9 male Ambassadors and 2 female Ambassadors, while there were 3 male Consuls and 1 female Consul.

In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs there is a clear increase of the number of women in managerial positions. In the period 1998-2002, 16 of the 30 officials in a managerial position were women. Of the 14 men in a managerial position, 7 were heads of a supporting department; of the 16 women in managerial positions, 6 were heads or acting heads of a supporting department. Women held responsibility in the 5 geopolitical divisions. In 2000, the first female Minister of Foreign Affairs was appointed. The head policy advisor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also a woman. In the eradication of gender inequality, however, one impediment is that political parties still exercise great influence on the nomination of men and women for politico-administrative bodies, High Organs of State, diplomatic service, and decision-making positions within Government. One of the points of action of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, included in the Gender Mainstreaming Plan of Suriname, is to give an impetus to removal of gender inequality in the diplomatic service.

In the framework of the globalizing changes in the world, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has enabled officials this past year to follow training to increase their knowledge. Use was also made of different diplomats’ training courses offered by friendly nations. Female civil servants and women from NGOs are still predominantly visible at international meetings that concern women. Suriname is well represented by female civil servants as well as women from NGOs in meetings of international and regional women’s organizations. At the invitation of international organizations like UNIFEM, UNICEF, other funds like the Gender Equity Fund of Canada, or at own initiative, women’s organizations participate with or without government representatives, in meetings of, inter alia, the above-mentioned organizations abroad and in Suriname. The costs for participation in conferences abroad and for organizing local conferences are borne by the relevant international organizations.

Table 8.1: Diplomats according to functions in de period 1999-2002, in comparison with 1998

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2002

Article 9

Nationality

Since the last CEDAW report, the legislation with respect to nationality has not changed. Thus, the discriminatory provision that a woman does not pay any costs when she is naturalized together with her husband, but that she does when she submits the application separately, still exists. The situation with regard to the nationality of the children has not changed either, as a result of which legitimate and natural children who have been acknowledged, in principle acquire the father’s nationality, whilst not-acknowledged children acquire the mother’s nationality. The Committee on Gender Legislation will present possible amendments for the law on nationality.

PART III

Article 10

Education

Formal education in Suriname is structured as follows:

Basic education (average 8 years)

- 2 years of pre-primary education (KO); and

- 6 years of primary education (GLO) or special education.

Junior secondary education (VOJ) (average 3 to 4 years)

- basic vocation-oriented education (EBO); or

- continued vocation-oriented education (VBO), including basic technical school (ETS); or

- secondary special education (VBO); or

- junior domestic education (LNO); or

- junior technical education (LTO); or

- junior vocation-oriented education (LBGO); or

- junior secondary general education (MULO).

Senior secondary education (VOS) (average 2 to 4 years)

- nurses’ training A/B and related vocational training (COVAB); or

- secondary economic and administrative education (MEAO); or

- institute for natural resources and technical education (NATIN); or

- nursery school teacher training A (Kweek-A); or

- primary school teacher training; or

- senior secondary general education (HAVO); or

- university preparatory education (VWO).

Tertiary education (average 2 to 5 years)

- advanced training for nurses and related vocations (COVAB); or

- training for dental hygienists (JTV); or

- institute for advanced teacher training (IOL) with 21 different courses; or

- the polytechnic college (PTC) with 4 courses; or

- the academy for higher arts and culture education (AHKCO) with 2 courses (journalism and socio-cultural work); or

- the University of Suriname with 13 courses.

In the Caribbean, the education expenditures as a percentage of the Gross National Product are on average 4%. In Suriname, this percentage was 6% in 1990 and 5.5% in 2000. The Ministry of Education’s share of the operational expenditures of the national budget is about 16%; in the 1980s, this was 25%. As far as investments are concerned, the Ministry’s share of the national budget was 4% in 2001, and 8% in 2002. This Ministry employed 37% of the civil servants in 2001; 77% of these civil servants were teachers (Source: National Educational Plan Suriname). On the national budget, the share of education increased from 10.7% to 12.6% in the period 1998-2002. In spite of this increase, the Government is unable to finance the education sector in its entirety. There was a further deterioration in maintenance of schools and furniture in the reporting period as a result of decreased government income. In the past years, therefore, an increasing financial contribution is required from the students. Thanks to endeavors of teachers, school principals, neighborhood organizations and NGOs funds are raised and donor assistance acquired to renovate schools and renew materials. But the great shortage of learning aids and physical problems still stagnate the educational process. Table 10.1 gives an overview of the financing of the educational sector between 1996 and 2000.

Table 10.1: Financing of the educational sector (1996 - 2000)
Estimated expenditures in *mln. SRG and in %

Sources: Min. Finance/ Financial Note 1997 - 2000 and Planning Office /Annual Plan 1997 - 2000

Until 1998, there were no women in senior management positions of the Ministry of Education. In 1999, a woman was appointed, but she was active in this function only for a few months. The Ministry has 4 Permanent Secretaries, none of whom is a woman. At present, 3 of the 15 Deputy Permanent Secretaries are women (20%). In primary schools, 183 of the 325 principals are women (56,3%); in junior secondary schools, 49 of the 84 (58,33%); in senior secondary schools 8 of the 13 (38,09%). The Anton de Kom University of Suriname has a board and three faculties. The University Board consists of 9 members. Between August 1997 and 13 September 2000, 2 of the 9 members were women (22.22%). Since 13 September 2000, the University Board consists of 8 men and 1 woman (11.11%). Each Faculty has a dean and a secretary, as well as a department head for each department. The number of women academic staff of the Anton de Kom University of Suriname varied in the Faculty of Social Sciences between 27 of the 55 persons (49.09%) in 1998 to 24 of the 50 in November 2002 (48%). In the Faculty of Medical Sciences 5 of the 15 academic staff were women (33,33%) in 1998, and this decreased to 6 of the 19 in 2002 (31.58%). In the Faculty of Technological Sciences there was a decrease: 20 of the 63 academic staff in 1998 was a woman (31.74%), and in 2002 this decreased to 27.53% (19 of the 69). Table 10.2 gives an overview of the number of women in management positions in the different faculties between 1998 and February 2002.

The Bureau for Education Information and Study Facilities of the Ministry of Education is responsible for providing education on study possibilities in Suriname and abroad. The Information, which is accessible to everyone and does not focus on women, gives particular emphasis to formal education. Since the bureau does not have any units in the districts, the people in the rural districts and the interior do not get the information. There are two NGOs which also provide education on studies, namely the Foundation for Youth Welfare and the National Women’s Movement. The Foundation for Youth Welfare organizes annual educational fairs, which provide information to youth on formal education as well as various forms of non-formal education. The National Women’s Movement focuses its information on education to girls and women, in the framework of its programme ‘Non-traditional women’s jobs’. Through mass media, information is given on technical training in formal and non-formal education. The Ministry of Education supports these initiatives through its School Radio programmes and through the programmes of the Education and Awareness Departments.

Table 10.2: Management of the faculties of ADEK University

Source: Gender Focal Point of the Ministry of Education

In April 2002, the General Bureau of Statistics published Selected Gender Statistics of Suriname. This publication gives data with respect to the number of teachers according to sex and school type, and the number of lecturers at the Faculty of Social Sciences, the number of students according to sex, the number of registered students at tertiary level and the number of registered students per district. Table 10.3 shows the number of teachers according to sex and school type. Table 10.4 shows the number of students according to sex and school type, Table 10.5 shows the number of registered students at tertiary level according to sex.

Table 10.3: Number of teachers according to sex and school type
for school years 1997/1998 through 1999/2000

Source: Selected Gender Statistics, General Bureau of Statistics

Table 10.4: Number of students according to school type
for school years 1998/99 and 1999/2000

Source: Selected Gender Statistics, General Bureau of Statistics

Table 10.5: Number of registered students at tertiary level
(school years 1998/1999 through 2000/2001)

Source: Selected Gender Statistics, General Bureau of Statistics

In total, the percentage of female teachers remained stable between 82% and 83%. The highest percentage of women teachers is found in (pre) primary schools, and the lowest percentage in technical schools. The percentage of girls in the different school types (up to senior secondary level) between 1998 and 2000 remained the same (51%). The number of women students at tertiary level is steadily increasing from resp. 59% in school year 1999-2000 to 64% in school year 2000-2001, and 68% in school year 2001-2002. In the period 1999-2000 and 2001-2002 the share of female students at the Anton de Kom University rose from 21% to 64%. Per faculty the rise in female students was as follows:

Social Sciences: from 65% to 69%

Medical Sciences: from 54% to 56%

Technological Sciences: from 21% to 64%

As far as students per district are concerned, the tables of the publication Selected Gender Statistics of Suriname of the General Bureau of Statistics (April 2002) give data for 1997 to 2000. For the districts of Coronie and Brokopondo no data are available for junior secondary, while the District of Sipaliwini does not have a junior secondary school.

Table 10.6: Number of registered students per district (school year 1999/2000)

Source: Selected Gender Statistics, General Bureau of Statistics

Table 10.7: Registered students in 1999/2000 and 2000/2001
at the three faculties of the Anton de Kom University of Suriname

Source: Selected Gender Statistics, General Bureau of Statistics

The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), a study carried out by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing in collaboration with UNICEF in 1999/2000, mentions that about 78% of all children attends primary school. In the urban areas this is 81.6%, in the rural areas of the coast it is 81.9%, while school attendance is considerably lower in the interior (61.2%).

Table 10.8: Percentage of children of primary school age
attending school 1999-2000

No clear difference has been established between school attendance of boys and girls. Access to schools in the interior is usually impeded by a lack of adequate schools, materials, qualified teachers and teacher houses. School attendance of girls in the interior is further impeded by notions of the Maroon and Indigenous people who live in that area of the reproductive and social role of girls. As a result, girls have to assist their mothers on the farming plot or in the home during sowing or harvesting times, which is at the cost of their school attendance.

In general, the number of female students exceeds the number of male students in Suriname. This is particularly the case at Junior Secondary Pre-vocational (LBGO), Junior Secondary General (MULO), Domestic Science, Senior Secondary (VWMKO), the University, and the Institute for Advanced Teacher Training (IOL). But the number of male students exceeds the number of female students at technical schools and in primary school. As already mentioned in the previous report, enrolment is a reflection of gender patterns. Although all forms of schools and education are equally open to boys and girls, LBGO and Domestic Science can still be considered school types providing training in so-called traditional women’s jobs, while technical schools train students in so-called traditional men’s jobs. In 2001, in the framework of the UNIFEM Programme Women and Sustainable Human Development, the Projekta Foundation made a short documentary entitled Gender and Education, in which teachers and students expressed themselves. This, as well as a sample survey in preparation of the documentary, clearly showed that there are still stereotypical role patterns of men and women in textbooks, programmes and teaching methods at primary schools, that boys and girls are treated and punished differently by the teachers, and that boys are more often called ‘”difficult” and “unmanageable”. Most curricula currently used in primary schools were developed in the 1980s by the Curriculum Development Department of the Ministry of Education. The curricula are used throughout the country in all schools. In 1998 this department started with the assessment of the curricula. According to the Ministry of Education, due account will be given to gender aspects during revision. In 2000, a start was made with revision of the primary school curricula for geography, history and natural science.

The Surinamese law does not have any gender impediments with regard to access to scholarships and other study allowances. Table 10.9 shows the total number of scholarships awarded for studies in Suriname and abroad in the period 1998-2002. More scholarships are awarded to boys for studies abroad, which are usually higher-level studies that cannot be done in Suriname.

Table 10.9: Scholarship awarded for studies in Suriname and abroad, 1998-2002

Source: Ministry of Education, Bureau for Education Information and Study Facilities

In general, more scholarships are awarded to girls for studies in Suriname than to boys. Exceptions are for studies at the Institute for Natural Resources and Technical Studies (NATIN). As far as the Faculty of Medical Sciences is concerned, about equal numbers of scholarships were awarded to boys and girls in 2001, while in the preceding years more male students than female students were awarded a scholarship.

Table 10.10: Number of scholarships awarded in Suriname,
according to school type

Source: Ministry of Education, Bureau for Education Information and Study Facilities

Girls and boys are awarded identical certificates and diplomas in Suriname. As far as examination results are concerned, there is no gender-specific information available to enable a comparison of results on the basis of sex.

According to the law and in practice, there is no discrimination between male and female teachers with the same qualifications. But there are still arrears in the interior in comparison with the urban areas, for teachers in the interior usually have lower qualifications than the teaching certificates required for teaching in the urban area. In 2000, 89% of all teachers at (pre) primary schools in Suriname were women. In 2002, there were a total of 514 teachers employed in the interior, 131 of whom were men and 383 women (74,5%).

In formal education there are no policies and/or programmes for lifelong education. On a small scale, NGOs implement literacy programmes both in Paramaribo and in the interior, which are attended primarily by women (ca. 95%). Further official data on enrolment or obstacles to participation of particularly women in these programmes are not available. The most recent data on the literacy rate of the Surinamese population are data published in the household survey 1993-1997 of the General Bureau of Statistics. The general literacy rate for the entire population was estimated as 90.5%, i.e. men 91.6% and women 89.5%. The data were not subdivided into age groups. In the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), the percentage of literates of 15 years and older (1999 through 2000) was estimated at 86.2%. To determine this percentage, the indicator used was the ability to read the newspaper without too much effort. In the rural areas, and in particular the interior, there was a much lower literacy rate, namely 87% in the districts and 52.1% in the interior, but 93% in the urban areas. On the whole, the literacy rate of women is lower than men (73.7% versus 83% among men). The MICS report published the following literacy rates in the different living areas:

Urban areas: 94.1% (M) 91.8% (F)

Rural areas: 89.0% (M) 84.9% (F)

Interior 65.9% (M) 44.4% (F)

MICS gives the following results for the drop out percentage at primary schools in the period 1999-2000 (Table 10.11). The average percentage among boys is 7.14%, and among girls 6.06%. There are no data available on the dropout percentage at other school types. No qualitative studies were performed in this reporting period.

Table 10.11: Percentage of children starting in grade 1,
who eventually reach grade 6, 1999 - 2000

Source: Multiple Indicator Cluster System (MICS) Suriname

Contrary to the policy at senior secondary schools, teenage mothers are not admitted to all junior secondary schools. The argument used is the possible negative influence on other students. Teenage fathers, however, are allowed to continue school. In Suriname ca. 17% of annual deliveries are registered to mothers younger than 20 years. According to the policy plan for children 2002-2003 of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing (February 2002, with UNICEF support), there are high numbers of teenage pregnancies because adults give insufficient priority to sexual education for children and prefer to avoid communication about sex. Teenagers themselves are often aware of contraceptives, but do not apply the knowledge. Girls generally suffer more from the consequences of teenage pregnancies than boys. The young mother is often unable to take care of the child emotionally, socially and financially, and the economic and development chances for mother and child are impeded.

There are no specific legal regulations in sports and physical education, which are part of the curricula of primary, junior secondary and senior secondary schools in Suriname. Specially trained teachers teach physical education. In sports organizations, the participation of girls and women is encouraged, especially in rounders, basketball and soccer. There is an increase in the participation of girls and women in sports activities, in regular education and in the training courses as sports leaders. The influence of cultural factors – especially religion – which in the past formed an impediment to the participation of girls and women in sports and physical education has decreased slightly. In the period 1998-2002 the number of female teachers of physical education was ca. 87%. There is a slight decrease in comparison with 1998.

Table 10.12: Physical education teachers, 1998-2002

Source: Ministry of Education, Ms. Overeem

Through the subjects natural science and biology and the project Basic Life Skills information on health in general and reproductive health in particular is given in primary and secondary schools. The Lobi Foundation plays an important role in educational programmes. This NGO is often consulted by the government, school principals and teachers and also provides family planning information and sex education at various schools and for private organizations, including women’s organizations. These activities are still in contravention of Articles 533 and 534 of the Penal Code, which have not yet been amended.

Women’s organizations also provide information on women and everything that has to do with women’s development and their position in society. Many students and schools make use of these possibilities, and also visit the NGO Johanna Elsenhout Women’s Documentation Center for more information.

Article 11

Labor

The share of the Ministry of Labor, Technological Development and Environment (ATM) on the national budget went from 0.57% in 1998 to 0.43% in 2001, and 0.88% in 2002.

Table 11.1: Share of Ministry van ATM in the annual
estimated government budget 1998- 2002 (x SRG. 1 miln)

Source: Ministry of Finance

The state has ratified the following conventions:

- Night Work Convention (I.L.O., no. 41) on 15 June 1976. In view of this convention and urged by different social groups, including trade unions, Suriname removed the prohibition on night work from its legislation by state decree 1983 no. 91, since the prohibition of night work was regarded as discrimination of women. The Ministry of ATM is considering the ratification of ILO Convention no. 89, which is an amendment of ILO Convention no. 41.

- Employment Policy Convention (I.L.O., no. 122) 15 June 1976.

- The International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Ecosoc), in 1976. This convention lays down the obligation for Suriname to treat male and female workers equally.

The following I.L.O. conventions are deemed important for ratification by the state, also because these are in accordance with CEDAW and the Constitution. Since these conventions have not yet been ratified by Suriname, there is no legislation in this regard either:

- Maternity Protection Convention (I.L.O. 2000 no. 183). This ILO Convention was not yet submitted to the National Assembly in this reporting period. It is expected that employers, especially small entrepreneurs, will persist in their objections against implementation of this convention, in particular with respect to the costs related to maternity leave and indemnification of delivery. Ratification might lead to fewer women being employed, which would further weaken the position of women on the labor market.

- Equal Remuneration Convention (I.L.O.1951 no. 100). This convention cannot be ratified yet because Suriname does not have a job classification system. This system is linked to a fixed salary system. Moreover, Suriname does not have a general system of minimum wages either.

- Discrimination Convention (Employment and Occupation) (I.L.O. 1958 no. 111).

- Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention (I.L.O. 1981 no. 156). Ratification is impeded, because the obligations that ensue from this convention on the short term are extremely costly for the Surinamese economy.

Under the auspices of the Ministry of ATM, the National Steering Group "Women Workers' Rights" was installed, comprising representatives of trade and industry, trade unions, government and women’s organizations. Between 1996 and 1999 various activities were developed in the framework of the ILO project "Training and information on women workers’ rights". The steering group, which has meanwhile been disbanded, produced the following documents, which are still available for the formulation of policy on women workers’ rights:

- research report ‘Women in technical jobs’;

- research report “Working conditions of workers in textile shops”;

- report “Evaluation of gender equality in Surinamese labor legislation and collective labor agreements”;

- report “Sexual harassment at work”.

Posters, which were produced at the time, are still up to date and available for distribution.

The following legal measures were taken at the national level to guarantee the right to work:

- Constitution, Article 26 paragraph 1 gives every citizen the right to work in accordance with his/her capacities. This is underlined as one of the fundamental social laws.

- The Labor Law and the Civil Code do not distinguish on the basis of sex, and are applicable to every employee.

- In the Police Regulations an article that used to be discriminatory towards the employment of married women and women with children, has been removed.

In Suriname, the Ministry of Labor, Technological Development and Environment (ATM) is responsible for the national labor policy, while the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of ATM are responsible for the policy on equality of men and women in the work place. Tables 11.2 and 11.3 give data on employed and unemployed people in Paramaribo and the district of Wanica. Data for other districts are not available. The unemployment rate is available only for Paramaribo and the district of Nickerie (see Table 11.4).

Table 11.2: Employed population in households
in the districts of Paramaribo and Wanica according to age group p/yr.

Primary Source: General Bureau of Statistics

Secondary Source: Labor Statistics Dept., Ministry of ATM

( *tentative data)

Table 11.3: Unemployed population in households
in the districts of Paramaribo and Wanica according to age group

Primary Source: General Bureau of Statistics

Secondary source: Labor Statistics Dept., Ministry of ATM

( *tentative data)

Table 11.4: Unemployment rate,
Districts of Paramaribo and Wanica, 1996 – 1999

Primary Source: General Statistics Bureau

Secondary source: Labor Statistics Dept., Ministry of ATM

( * tentative data)

The data are available for the period until the first half of 1999 and relate to the two largest districts, namely Paramaribo and Wanica, which together have about 70% of the total population. Since there have not been recent studies on the causes of unemployment among women, there are no data available to make an analysis. Experience of the Ministry of ATM with unemployed women in its labor mediation efforts and vocational training shows that women still prefer traditional women’s jobs. As a result, women miss the chance to get a job in the technical field. The vocational choice is an important factor of unemployment among women in Suriname. Because of impediments regarding childcare, women are further restricted in their choice of a job with irregular working hours. In workshops for unemployed people, the Ministry of ATM has noticed that among certain groups of unemployed women there is a lack of motivation and lack of perseverance among some women in the lengthy process to acquire a suitable place of employment. In areas where there are no labor mediation offices, a lack of information is often an important aspect, because the unemployed are dependent on traditional methods of information transfer and often cannot be informed in time of vacancies. A lack of information and limited access to capital are further impediments for unemployed women, who might want to set themselves up as micro-entrepreneurs.

The Ministry of ATM uses the following instruments to eradicate unemployment among women: vocational training, labour exchange and guidance of micro-entrepreneurs. The Foundation for Labor Mobilization and Development (SAO), which comes under the Ministry of ATM, aims at organizing vocational training for dropouts and job seekers. The training courses are short (6-9 months) and focus on training both men and women for technical jobs, as entrepreneurs, and in business-specific courses. The data show that fewer women than men participate in the SAO training courses.

Table 11.5: Overview of female participants
in regular SAO training courses 2000 – 2002

Source: Labor Mobilization and Development (SAO), Ministry of ATM

As evident from Table 11.5, between 2000 and 2002 there were 2273 persons enrolled, of whom 638 were women (28%). Most women enrolled for traditional women’s jobs (83.6%) such as sewing. The low participation of women in technical training courses is related to the existing traditional ideas of the roles of working men and women. To increase the number of women enrolled in technical training, the National Women’s Movement (NVB) implemented the project “Women in non-traditional jobs”, part of which was done in collaboration with SAO. The programme of the National Women’s Movement distinguishes itself from other training courses by the specific guidance and didactics used for the target group, the empowerment of the women concerned in different areas, the direct guidance for women to the labor market, the post-training guidance, and the special attention given to awareness.

Table 11.6: Overview of women participating in regular SAO training courses
1999 – 2002 (including women in non-traditional jobs training)

Source: Labor Mobilization and Development (SAO), Ministry of ATM

The Expertise Center “Women and Business”, which was set up by the Ministry of ATM in June 1994, aimed at giving support and guidance to starting micro-entrepreneurs. The Center is no longer operational. The tasks of the center have been taken over by the Foundation Productive Working Units (SPWE), which also comes under the Ministry of ATM, and which directs its attention towards improving micro-entrepreneurs and small entrepreneurs, both men and women. Between 1999 and 2002, SPWE organized various training activities, during which 422 people were trained. The training courses included techniques for negotiating and presentation, financial management, basic marketing, business management, basic accounting, advanced accounting, logistics management, personal leadership, and writing a business plan. Table 11.7 shows the data on persons trained.

Table 11.7 Overview of persons trained by SPWE between 1999 – 2002

Source: SPWE, Ministry of ATM

Two NGOs, namely the National Women’s Movement (through the Institute for Women Entrepreneurs) and the Women’s Business Group Foundation, have provided training courses to strengthen the skills of micro-entrepreneurs. The training of the National Women’s Movement consisted of the following modules: basic accounting; advanced accounting; financial administration; cost price calculation; marketing; financial management; writing a business plan. The workshops concerned chicken farming, plant propagation, budgeting, and presentation techniques for persons and products during fairs. Guidance was provided both in the office and at the work place. Guidance in the office usually had to do with developing the idea of the micro-entrepreneur into a business. Guidance at the work place concerned the practical application of theoretical knowledge. 536 of the trained persons were women (99%).

Table 11.8: Training courses by National Women’s Movement/
Inst. for Women Entrepreneurs 1998 – 2002

Source: National Women’s Movement

The Women’s Business Group Foundation (WBG) was established in 1993. It is a network of women entrepreneurs who, for the larger part, come from the branches handicraft, textile, food processing, and skin and hair care. WBG tries to stimulate and strengthen entrepreneurs in an innovative manner. In 1998 the foundation was professionalized and the Bureau of the Women’s Business Group was established. Through its business advice and training (BAT) Unit and its Project Development and Guidance (POB) Unit, the organization provides various services, such as business advice for starting and/or established entrepreneurs; assistance to entrepreneurs in writing their business plan; entrepreneurship training; guidance in business organization; credit mediation; identification and development of projects which guarantee sustainable livelihoods for women in local communities; assistance to foundations and other organizations in developing project ideas. Besides these regular services, there are also general and branche-specific network meetings and specific workshops and training, which aim at meeting the needs of the entrepreneurs per branche, but also at helping to find solutions for specific problems which entrepreneurs have. Between 1999 and 2001, the following trainings/workshops were held (Source: Women’s Business Group Foundation):

- Training Business Management, Marketing and Quality Improvement, in collaboration with the organization Black Migrant and Refugee Women in the Netherlands. The same training was offered to non-literate women in the interior by using images and symbols.

- Workshop Home Improvement (17 women).

- Training Basic Human Resource Management. The training was adapted to the situation of the participants. Subjects discussed included organizational structure, description of the organization, position description, staff profiling, staffing and staff assessment. (10 women).

- Workshop Handicraft: making jewelry and stuffed toys. (10 women).

- Training Salon Management and Aroma Therapy: basic techniques for skin and hair care. (12 women).

- Workshop Business Administration: keeping a balance sheet and drawing up a profit and loss account. (10 women).

As mentioned in the previous report, the right to a free choice of occupation is properly laid down in the law. In practice, there appear to be impediments. The share of women in the agricultural and industrial sectors is structurally low. Unfortunately, the most recent data is from 1996, when the share of women in the agricultural and industrial sectors were, resp. 9.5% and 5.1%. In part, the relatively low percentage of women in the agricultural sector could be because women are not acknowledged as producers and income providers, and as such remain invisible in labor statistics. Furthermore, people who are active in the informal sector, including many women, do not register as employed, among other things because of their fear of paying taxes, or because they are not licensed, or because they produce on an irregular basis.

A survey conducted by the National Women’s Movement in two neighborhoods of Paramaribo showed that the existing gender inequality at macro-economic level is clearly reflected at the household level. In the neighborhoods, namely Palissadeweg (semi-rural area) and Munderbuiten (urban area) there are twice as many men as women involved in the labor process and men were also indicated as the main source of income for families. Although the phenomenon of working mothers has a long history in Suriname, the data from the survey in Munderbuiten and Palissadeweg show that resp. 36% and 47% of the mothers have a fulltime paid job outside the home. This means that 64% of the women of Palissadeweg and 53% of the women at Munderbuiten are housewives. In spite of the important contribution of women to the income of the family, there is still a strong notion, especially among men, that men are responsible for providing the family income. Men in general ignore the role of women as income providers, as appears from the fact that 0% of the men on the Palissadeweg and only 17% of those at Munderbuiten indicated women as an important source of income for the family. Furthermore, 29% of the men at Palissadeweg and 61% of those at Munderbuiten said they do not support women working outside the home. The notion that the man is the income provider of the family is therefore an important reference in the socialization of children, and it is therefore an important ideological instrument in maintaining gender inequality in society.

The ideas of gender continue into choice of jobs, as also appears from the data on the presence of primarily women in traditional women’s occupations, such as administrative and service-rendering jobs (nurses and teachers), while the majority of men are fond in technical jobs and management positions. (Source: Survey Report on Gender Socialization In Two Selected Communities: Palissadeweg and Munderbuiten, December 2000, by Dr. Julia Terborg for the National Women’s Movement and financed by UNICEF).

There are no data available on the position of women in non-traditional jobs, but the data on the position of girls and women in technical education are self-evident.

Table 11.9: Girls in technical education