U.S. Department of State 2003 Trafficking in Persons Report - Suriname
- Author: Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
- Document source:
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Date:
11 June 2003
Suriname (Tier 3)
[*Please note: Suriname was updated to Tier 2 per President George W. Bush, Presidential Determination No. 2003-35, September 9, 2003.]
Suriname is a destination and transit point for Brazilian, Colombian, Dominican, and Guyanese women trafficked into prostitution. Some women enter the country to become prostitutes, but once in Suriname, club owners often hold passports presumably until debts are paid. Some victims are routed through Suriname to The Netherlands or other European destinations, according to NGO reports. Suriname is a transit country for Chinese smuggled to the United States, some of whom may be trafficked. There have been cases of Surinamese prostitutes selling their own children for sex.
The Government of Suriname does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so. Even though the government has extremely limited resources, it must begin to enforce laws against traffickers. Poor border controls and widespread corruption contribute to an atmosphere where international smugglers and traffickers can easily operate.
Prevention
The government is essentially indifferent to the issue of trafficking. No significant prevention efforts take place. The government contributed to research by an NGO that looked at the problem of Surinamese prostitutes selling their children for sex.
Prosecution
A patchwork of laws exist which could be used to prosecute traffickers, although not all forms of trafficking are illegal; for example, there is no protection for trafficked adult males. Although prostitution of women is illegal, police do not investigate or in any way disrupt organized prostitution that may harbor victims of trafficking. Police have intervened to help prostitutes retrieve passports being held by brothel owners, but do not proactively investigate organizations or individuals who may be involved in trafficking.
Protection
The government does not provide any significant protection for victims. Police have assisted a few victims of trafficking to return to their countries at the victims' expense. Some NGOs attempt to provide assistance to victims, but resources are greatly lacking and there is little government support.
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