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Suriname — Gun Facts, Figures and the LawStockpilesGun NumbersCivilian GunsNumber of Privately Owned FirearmsRate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 PopulationNumber of Privately Owned Firearms - World RankingIn a 2007 comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Suriname ranked at No. 1495 Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population - World RankingIn a 2007 comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 178 countries, Suriname ranked at No. 484 Number of Registered FirearmsRate of Registered Firearms per 100 PopulationEstimated Number of Unregistered and Illicit FirearmsImpactsDeath and InjuryTotal Number of Gun DeathsHomicides (any method)ChartIn Suriname, annual homicides by any means total 2015: 5817 2014: 3118 2013: 28 2012: 28 2011: 35 2010: 39 2009: 36 2008: 18 2007: 40 2006: 23 2005: 28 2004: 25 2003: 28 2002: 13 2001: 18 2000: 19 Rate of Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)Male Homicide Victims (any method)Rate of Male Homicide per 100,000 People (any method)Female Homicide Victims (any method)Gun HomicidesSuicides (any method)ChartIn Suriname, annual suicides by any means total 2014: 13014 2013: 133 2012: 134 2011: 127 2010: 137 2009: 132 2008: 147 2007: 119 2006: 112 2005: 7221 22 2004: 6721 2003: 77 2002: 69 2001: 72 2000: 53 Rate of Suicide per 100,000 People (any method)Male Suicide Victims (any method)Rate of Male Suicide per 100,000 People (any method)Female Suicide Victims (any method)Gun SuicidesUnintentional Gun DeathsChartIn Suriname, annual unintentional shooting deaths total 2014: 014 2013: 0 2012: 1 2011: 0 2010: 0 2009: 115 16 2008: 2 2007: 1 Rate of Unintentional Gun Death per 100,000 PeopleUnintentional Male Gun DeathsRate of Unintentional Male Gun Death per 100,000 PeopleUnintentional Female Gun DeathsRate of Unintentional Female Gun Death per 100,000 PeopleIn Suriname, the annual rate of unintentional female shooting death per 100,000 population is 2007: 0.3914 Gun Deaths from Undetermined CauseChartIn Suriname, annual shooting deaths in which the cause remains undecided total 2014: 314 2013: 7 2012: 5 2011: 10 2010: 6 2009: 515 16 2008: 8 2007: 7 Rate of Gun Death from Undetermined Cause per 100,000 PeopleMale Gun Deaths from Undetermined CauseRate of Male Gun Death from Undetermined Cause per 100,000 PeopleFemale Gun Deaths from Undetermined CauseRate of Female Gun Death from Undetermined Cause per 100,000 PeopleIn Suriname, the annual rate of unknown-cause female shooting deaths per 100,000 population is 2013: 0.3614 Legal Intervention Gun HomicidesRate of Legal Intervention Gun Homicide per 100,000 PeopleIn Suriname, the annual rate of legal-intervention gun homicide per 100,000 population is 2008: 0.1914 Male Legal Intervention Gun HomicidesRate of Male Legal Intervention Gun Homicide per 100,000 PeopleIn Suriname, the annual rate of male legal-intervention gun homicide per 100,000 population is 2008: 0.3814 ProductionGun IndustryRegulation of Firearm MakersIn Suriname, the manufacture of small arms, ammunition and/or their components is not conducted23 TransfersGun Trade and TraffickingRegulation of Arms BrokersIn Suriname, the activities of arms brokers and transfer intermediaries are not specifically regulated by law23 End User CertificatesCustoms regulations in Suriname do not include23 certification of the intended end user of any small arms or ammunition transfer, and/or a written declaration of its intended end use MeasuresGun RegulationFirearm Regulation - Guiding PolicyThe regulation of guns in Suriname is categorised as restrictive29 Gun Ownership and PossessionIn Suriname, only licensed gun owners38 33 39 40 may lawfully acquire, possess or transfer a firearm or ammunition Genuine Reason Required for Firearm PossessionApplicants for a gun owner’s licence in Suriname are required to establish genuine reason to possess a firearm40 Minimum Age for Firearm PossessionThe minimum age for gun ownership in Suriname is undefined23 Gun Owner Background ChecksAn applicant for a firearm licence in Suriname must pass a background check which considers undefined23 records Reference Required for Firearm LicenceIn Suriname, third party character references for each gun licence applicant are not required23 Partner to be Advised or InterviewedIn Suriname, licensing authorities are not required23 to conduct interviews with, or to advise an applicant's spouse, partner, or next of kin before issuing a gun licence Domestic Violence and FirearmsWhere a past history, or apprehended likelihood of family violence exists, the law in Suriname does not stipulate23 that a gun licence should be denied or revoked Firearm Safety TrainingIn Suriname, an understanding of firearm safety and the law, tested in a theoretical and/or practical training course is not required23 for a firearm licence Gun Owner Licensing PeriodIn Suriname, gun owners must re-apply and re-qualify for their firearm licence every year37 Licensing RecordsIn Suriname, authorities maintain a record32 of individual civilians licensed to acquire, possess, sell or transfer a firearm or ammunition Limit on Number of GunsLicensed firearm owners in Suriname are permitted to possess one firearm per licence37 Limit on Quantity, Type of AmmunitionLicensed firearm owners in Suriname are permitted to possess up to 100 cartridges for small firearms (rifle, musket, carbine) and no more than 25 cartridges for handguns (pistols, revolvers)41 Firearm RegistrationCivilian Gun RegistrationIn Suriname, the law requires32 that a record of the acquisition, possession and transfer of each privately held firearm be retained in an official register Gun Dealer Record KeepingIn Suriname, licensed firearm dealers are required42 to keep a record of each firearm or ammunition purchase, sale or transfer on behalf of a regulating authority Gun Sales and TransfersRegulation of Private Gun SalesIn Suriname, the private sale and transfer of firearms is prohibited43 Regulation of Dealer Gun SalesWaiting Period for Gun PossessionIn Suriname, the minimum wait for a lawful firearm purchase to be completed is undetermined23 Regulation of Gun ShowsIn Suriname, gun shows and temporary firearm dealing events are not regulated23 in law Storage and Transport of Guns and AmmunitionFirearm and Ammunition Storage Regulations - PrivateFirearm regulations in Suriname do not include23 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of private firearms and ammunition by licensed gun owners Firearm and Ammunition Storage Regulations - DealerFirearm regulations in Suriname do not include23 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of firearms and ammunition by licensed arms dealers Firearm and Ammunition Storage Regulations - GovernmentGovernment regulations in Suriname n'inclut pas23 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of firearms and ammunition by state entities Firearm and Ammunition Transport RegulationsRegulations in Suriname do not include23 written specifications for the lawful safe storage of firearms and ammunition while in transit MeasuresInternational ControlsRegional AgreementsOrganization of American StatesOn 14 November 1997, as a member of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Suriname adopted the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Explosives, Ammunition and Other Related Materials (CIFTA), a legally binding multilateral treaty of which the OAS is depository. The CIFTA Convention has since been signed and ratified48 49 by Suriname Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and DevelopmentThe Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development, a diplomatic initiative aimed at addressing the interrelations between armed violence and development, was not signed50 by Suriname. Arms Trade TreatyThe Arms Trade Treaty has been signed, but not yet ratified51 by Suriname United Nations Firearms ProtocolThe United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition has not been signed52 by Suriname United Nations Small Arms Programme of Action UNPoAUNPoA CommitmentOn 21 July 2001, Suriname committed to a consensus decision of the United Nations to adopt, support and implement the UN Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects53 UNPoA National ReportingUNPoA National Point of ContactIn Suriname, a National Point of Contact to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has been designated55 UNPoA National Coordinating BodyIn Suriname, a National Coordinating Body to deal with issues relating to the UNPoA has not been designated55 UNPoA Civil Society Involvement and SupportIn National Reports of Suriname submitted to the UN from 2001 to 2010, a history of substantive cooperation with civil society in support of UNPoA activities was not apparent55 UNPoA International Assistance – DonorFunds for UNPoA implementation have not been donated55 by Suriname to other UN Member States United Nations Small Arms RegisterAccording to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, Suriname has not declared56 its small arms exports in one or more annual National Reports on Arms Exports. United Nations MembershipIn the UN List of Member States, Suriname has been a Member State of the United Nations since 197557 Wassenaar ArrangementThe Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls and Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies does not list58 Suriname as a Participating State BackgroundSustainable Development Goal ProfileAbout SDG 16The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 goals set by the United Nations to be implemented by all member states by 2030. Adopted in 2015, they outline a vision of development in which peace and security are an integral part.
SDG 16,59 which seeks to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development,” includes targets and indicators focused on reducing violence (Target 16.1) and the proliferation of illicit arms (Target 16.4). The indicators – or measurement criteria – of these targets include the number of victims of intentional homicide (Indicator 16.1.1), the number of conflict-related deaths (Indicator 16.1.2), and the number of illicit firearms collected and traced (Indicator 16.4.2).
In light of these targets and indicators, GunPolicy.org provides granular national data pertaining to homicides, gun homicides, conflict deaths, disarmament efforts, and marking and tracing. Conflict DeathsFor a profile of conflict in Suriname, select the Link icon to open an external web page from the UCDP Conflict Encyclopedia at Uppsala University Marking and TracingFirearm MarkingIn Suriname, a unique identifying mark on each firearm is not required by law23 Firearm TracingIn Suriname, state authorities do not carry out23 recognised arms tracing and tracking procedures Ballistic Record of Firearms and AmmunitionIn Suriname, the ballistic characteristics of each civilian firearm and its ammunition are not23 recorded in a register |
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