PREAMBLE

WE, THE PEOPLE OF SURINAME, inspired by the love for this Country and the belief in the power of the Almighty and guided by the centuries-long struggle of our people against colonialism, which was terminated by the establishment of the Republic of Suriname on 25 November 1975, taking into consideration the consequent struggle against neo-colonialist colonization and the process of renovation of social relations, which was commenced on 25 February 1980, conscious of our duty to combat and to prevent every form of foreign domination, resolved to defend and protect the national sovereignty, independence and integrity, assured of the will to determine our economic, social and cultural development in full freedom convinced of our duty to honor and to guarantee the principles of freedom, equality and democracy as well as the fundamental rights and freedoms of man, inspired by a civic spirit and by the participation in the construction, expansion and maintenance of a society that is socially just, determined to collaborate with one another and with all peoples of the world on the basis of freedom, equality, peaceful coexistence and international solidarity, SOLEMNLY DECLARE, TO ACCEPT, AS A RESULT OF THE PLEBISCITE TO BE HELD, THE FOLLOWING CONSTITUTION.

CHAPTER V. BASIC RIGHTS, INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS

Article 8
All who are within the territory of Suriname have an equal claim to protection of person and property.
No one may be discriminated against on the grounds of birth, sex, race, language, religious origin, education, political beliefs, economic position or any other status.

Article 9
Everyone has a right to physical, mental and moral integrity.
No one may be submitted to torture, degrading or inhuman treatment or punishment.

Article 10
Everyone has in case of infringement of his rights and freedoms a claim to an honest and public treatment of his complaint within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial judge.

Article 11
No person may be withdrawn against his own will from the judge whom the law assigns to him.

Article 12
Everyone can have legal assistance before the courts
The law regulates the rendering of legal aid to those who are financially weaker.

Article 13
Loss of civil rights or the general forfeiture of all the goods of an offender may not be inflicted as a penalty or as a consequence of a penalty for any crime.

Article 14
Everyone has a right to life. This right is protected by the law.

Article 16
Everyone has the right to personal liberty and safety.
No one will be deprived of his freedom, other than on grounds and according to proceedings determined by law.
Everyone who is deprived of his freedom has a right to a treatment in accordance with human dignity.

Article 17
Everyone has a right to respect of his privacy, his family life, his home and his honor and good name.
No dwelling may be entered against the occupant’s will except when commissioned by an authority which has the power to give that order by virtue of law and subject to the conditions prescribed by the law.
The secrecy of letters, telephone and telegraph is inviolable except in the cases described by law.

Article 18
Everyone has the right of freedom of religion and philosophical conviction.

Article 19
Everyone has the right to make public his thoughts or feelings and to express his opinion through the printed press or other means of communication, notwithstanding everyone’s responsibility according to the law.

Article 22
Everyone has the right to submit written petitions to the public authorities.
The law regulates the procedure for handling them.