Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

1. The Committee notes that the National Institute for Human Rights is competent to hear complaints of human rights violations (Decrees Nos. A-18/1985 and A-18A/1986). The Committee also notes from the Government's report that 1,100 persons made use of the facilities of the Institute during the period ending in June 1991.

The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the complaints of human rights violations submitted to the Institute and in particular to supply any periodical or annual reports on the Institute's activities and the complaints dealt with.

Article 1(a) of the Convention. 2. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that section 1 of Decree No. B-10 of 29 June 1983 prohibiting the import, carrying, sale, distribution, possession, storage, production and reproduction of prescribed publications, prohibits publications which, in the opinion of the competent authorities, may seriously disturb the public order and national security. Under section 1(2), the Council of Ministers is to define the scope of the prohibition established in section 1(1); section 2 of the Decree provides for penalties of imprisonment or fines.

The Committee asks the Government to indicate whether the above Decree is still in force and, if so, to provide the text of any decisions taken by the Council of Ministers under section 1(2).

3. The Committee also referred to the National Decree of 20 July 1956 which submits both meetings open to the public and other meetings in the district of Paramaribo to prior authorization under section 5 of the Royal Decree of 26 October 1933 (on the exercise of the right of assembly) and which, under sections 8 and 9 of the 1933 Decree, provides for penalties involving compulsory labour. The Government stated previously that the above Decree is outdated and no longer applied in practice.

In its last report, the Government indicates that the matter has been brought to the attention of the Ministry of Justice.

The Committee hopes that the Government will shortly be able to report that the necessary measures have been adopted to bring the legislation into conformity with the Convention and the practice described.

Article 1(c) and (d). 4. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the Government's statement that a draft decree prepared by the Minister of Justice to repeal sections 456 to 458, 462, 463 and 468, and to amend sections 455 and 464 of the Penal Code applying to seafarers would be submitted to the competent authority. The Committee noted the Government's indications that the draft decree had been approved by the Council of Ministers, but had not yet been adopted by the National Assembly or published. In its most recent report, the Government indicates that this matter has been brought to the attention of the Ministry of Justice.

The Committee hopes that the Government will shortly be able to indicate that this matter, on which it has been commenting for many years, has at last been settled.