Summary

Non-signatory Suriname has expressed interest in the Convention on Cluster Munitions, but has not taken any steps to join it. Suriname voted in favor of a key United Nations (UN) resolution promoting the convention in December 2021. It last participated in a meeting of the convention in 2013.

Suriname has stated that it has not used, produced, or stockpiled cluster munitions.

Policy

The Republic of Suriname has not acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Suriname has acknowledged the humanitarian concerns raised by cluster munitions and expressed interest in the convention, but has not taken any steps to join it.[1] In 2013, the governing executive body received a report recommending Suriname join the convention, but did not progress towards accession.[2]

Suriname attended one meeting of the Oslo Process that created the Convention on Cluster Munitions, in Vienna, Austria in December 2007. It did not participate in the Dublin negotiations or the Oslo Signing Conference in December 2008. Suriname attended a regional conference on cluster munitions held in Santiago, Chile in September 2009.

Suriname last participated as an observer in meetings of the convention in 2013.[3] Suriname was invited to, but did not attend, the convention’s Second Review Conference held in November 2020 and September 2021.

In December 2021, Suriname voted in favor of a key United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution urging states outside the Convention on Cluster Munitions to “join as soon as possible.”[4] It has voted in favor of the annual UNGA resolution promoting the convention since it was first introduced in 2015.

Suriname has voted for UNGA resolutions expressing outrage at use of cluster munitions in Syria.[5]

Suriname is a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty. It is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW).

Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling

Suriname stated in 2013 that it has never produced, used, or stockpiled cluster munitions.[6]

Policy

The Republic of Suriname signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997 and ratified it on 23 May 2002, becoming a State Party on 1 November 2002. It has not enacted new legislation specifically to implement the Mine Ban Treaty.

Suriname has not attended any recent meetings of the treaty. It did not attend the Third Review Conference in Maputo in June 2014. Suriname submitted its sixth Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report on 30 April 2008 but has not submitted subsequent annual reports.

Suriname is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons, nor is it party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Production, use, import, and stockpiling

Suriname imported antipersonnel mines from Libya (Portuguese-manufactured M-969 and Yugoslav-manufactured PMA mines).[1] Suriname never produced or exported antipersonnel mines. An estimated 1,000 mines were planted during a 1986–1992 internal conflict.

Suriname destroyed its stockpile of 146 antipersonnel mines on 25 February 2004, and retained 150 antipersonnel mines for training purposes. Suriname noted in its Article 7 report for 2007 that it did not have any antipersonnel mines retained.

Mine clearance was completed on 4 April 2005, well in advance of Suriname’s 1 November 2012 mine clearance deadline. Suriname is affected by explosive remnants of war, primarily abandoned explosive ordnance.