Since March 2015, Suriname is an abolitionist country. No executions had not been carried out in Suriname since 1927.
While Suriname has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in 1976, it has yet to ratify its Second Optional Protocol aiming at the abolition of the death penalty (ICCPR-OP2).
29 November 2017: PGA organized a side-event to its 39th Annual Forum in Milan (Italy), entitled “Moving Away from Capital Punishment in Asia”. The event focused on the issues and arguments particularly relevant to the abolitionist movement in Asian countries, but was opened by Hon. Patrick Kensenhuis, PGA Member, sharing the experience of his country on abolishing the death penalty.
5 March 2015: Thanks to the commitment and leadership of PGA Member, Dr. Ruth Wijdenbosch, and PGA’s National Group, the Parliament of Suriname abolished the death penalty from the Penal Code. This is the first abolition which PGA has directly contributed to under the Campaign for the Abolition of the Death Penalty.
17 December 2014: The General Assembly of the United Nations adopted its 4th resolution calling for an international moratorium on the use of the death penalty with a record 117 votes in favor, 6 more than in 2012. Suriname voted in favour of the resolution for the first time, thanks to the leadership of then-PGA Board member Dr. Ruth Wijdenbosch, MP.
19 June 2014: PGA Members participated in the Annual Assembly of the World Coalition in Puerto Rico.
10 October 2013: On the occasion of the World Day against the Death Penalty, PGA Board member Dr. Ruth Wijdenbosch, MP (Deputy Speaker, Suriname) delivered a powerful statement against the death penalty at the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva.