Suriname research highlights pension rights gaps for unmarried partners

Nishita Bharos, a Master of Surinamese Law graduate from the Anton de Kom University of Suriname, has presented her research findings regarding the pension rights of unmarried partners to Minister of Home Affairs Marinus Bee.

Her thesis, titled “Rights of unmarried partners under Surinamese pension legislation,” examines the General Pension Act 2014 and civil servant pension schemes in relation to international treaties, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the American Convention on Human Rights.

Key findings include the practical impossibility of registering notarial cohabitation contracts in the Central Population Register due to a lack of specific regulations. Additionally, the research highlights that certain survivor pension provisions differentiate based on sexual orientation and sex, which Bharos argues is inconsistent with international treaty obligations. The study also notes that state decrees cannot deviate from formal laws, such as the Civil Servants Pension Act 1972.