COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION
OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Fifty-first session

CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES
UNDER ARTICLE 9 OF THE CONVENTION

Concluding observations of the Committee on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Suriname

487. At its 1237th meeting, held on 19 August 1997 (see CERD/C/SR.1237), the Committee reviewed the implementation of the Convention by Suriname. The Committee noted with regret that no initial report has been submitted to it since 1984.

488. While understanding the internal difficulties faced by the State party, the Committee regretted that Suriname had not responded to its invitation to participate in the meeting and to furnish relevant information. The multi-ethnic composition of the population and the existence of indigenous communities in Suriname make implementation of the Convention particularly important. The Committee decided that a communication should be sent to the Government of Suriname setting out its reporting obligations under the Convention and urging that the dialogue with the Committee be resumed as soon as possible.

489. The Committee suggested that the Government of Suriname may wish to avail itself of the technical assistance offered under the advisory services and technical assistance programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights/Centre for Human Rights, with the aim of drawing up and submitting its initial report, in accordance with the reporting guidelines, by the Committee's fifty-second session.