Recognition of same-sex unions in Suriname

Suriname does not recognize same-sex marriage or civil unions.

Background
The Constitution of Suriname does not explicitly ban same-sex marriage, nor does it mention the institution of marriage as a whole. Article 15 of the Constitution guarantees the right to found a family: "The family is recognized and protected." However, article 80 of the Civil Code states: "By marriage, a man can only be married to one woman, and a woman can only be married to one man."

In a 2014 report issued to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, four LGBT advocacy groups wrote, "Family laws in Suriname define marriage as the union between a man and a woman. LGBTI persons are not allowed to marry persons of the same sex. Considering that same-sex marriage is illegal, same-sex couples cannot be granted other rights which would result from such a legal union. Among other things, they therefore cannot inherit property or goods from a deceased partner as married opposite-sex couples can. In the recent Pension Act, married and unmarried opposite-sex couples are entitled to the pension of their deceased partner. Even though the Pension Act does not explicitly exclude same-sex partners of the same rights as opposite-sex partners, the Government has publicly stated in Parliament that the Pension Act would not include same-sex partnerships."

2018 Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling
On 9 January 2018, in advisory opinion OC 24/7, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) ruled that countries signatory to the American Convention on Human Rights are required to allow same-sex couples to marry. The ruling states that:

"The State must recognize and guarantee all rights derived from a family bond between persons of the same sex in accordance with the provisions of Articles 11.2 and 17.1 of the American Convention. (...) in accordance with articles 1.1, 2, 11.2, 17, and 24 of the American Convention, it is necessary to guarantee access to all the existing figures in domestic legal systems, including the right to marry. (..) To ensure the protection of all the rights of families formed by same-sex couples, without discrimination with respect to those that are constituted by heterosexual couples."

Suriname ratified the American Convention on Human Rights on 12 November 1987 and also recognized the court's jurisdiction that same day.

Reaction and aftermath
LGBT activists responded to the court ruling by calling on the government to legalize same-sex marriage, though said they believed the "country's not ready for LGBT rights".

In February 2023, the Constitutional Court ruled that the ban on same-sex marriage does not violate the Constitution or Suriname's obligations under the American Convention on Human Rights. However, the court also found that the Civil Code is outdated and needs to be modernized following public debate. This lawsuit was filed by a same-sex couples who had married in Argentina in 2018 and sought recognition of their marriage back home in Suriname. The Central Bureau of Civil Affairs had refused to recognize their Argentine marriage license. Following the decision, the couple said it was "very remarkable and strange that the Constitutional Court [has] ignore[d] the judgment of the American Court of Human Rights". Likewise, local human rights activist Carla Bakboord said "it is incomprehensible that the Constitutional Court [has] come to such a ruling. When the Court is abundantly clear about discrimination and the subordination of Surinamese legislation to that of international treaties, you do indeed expect the review to turn out to be different from this. I am very surprised."

Public opinion
A 2010 opinion poll carried out by Vanderbilt University showed that 10.3% of the Surinamese population supported same-sex marriage.