Prostitution laws in Suriname
Suriname's Penal Code, revised by the law of 30 March 2015, does not punish adults for selling or buying sex. Article 306, headed "Bordeelhouder", punishes whoever makes a profession or habit of intentionally causing or promoting sexual acts by others with third parties with up to two years and a fourth-category fine, which covers brothel keeping and organised procuring. Article 503 keeps a petty offence for a man who, as a pimp, draws profit from a woman's prostitution. Paying for sex with a person aged 16 or 17 carries up to six years, and trafficking for exploitation up to nine. A December 2024 newspaper report cites a Police Penal Act provision on women who solicit passers-by in the street.
Legal model
Legal, organisation banned. Selling and buying are legal, but brothels, procuring and organising are criminal offences.
Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences under the Penal Code as revised in 2015. Making a profession or habit of intentionally causing or promoting sexual acts by others with third parties, the article headed "Bordeelhouder" (brothel keeper), is a crime, and profiting as a pimp from a woman's prostitution is a petty offence. Public soliciting is reportedly covered by the Police Penal Act.[1]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Restricted Breach: criminal offence | Selling sex is not an offence under the Penal Code. According to press reporting, article 66 of the Police Penal Act (Politiestrafwet) makes it a petty offence, punishable by a fine or up to one month's detention, for a woman of known immoral conduct to attract the attention of passers-by on the public road.[1][2] |
| Buying sexual services | Legal | Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Sexual acts with a person aged 16 or 17 who makes themselves available for paid sexual acts carry up to six years and a fifth-category fine.[1] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | Article 306, headed "Bordeelhouder" (brothel keeper), punishes whoever makes a profession or habit of intentionally causing or promoting sexual acts by others with third parties with up to two years' imprisonment and a fourth-category fine. Press reporting describes sex work in bars and casinos in Paramaribo despite the ban.[1][2][3] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Habitual or professional promotion of others' sexual acts with third parties is punished under article 306 (up to two years). A man who as a pimp profits from a woman's prostitution commits a petty offence under article 503 (up to six weeks' detention and/or a fine). Procuring involving minors (art. 305) and trafficking for exploitation, including in prostitution (art. 334, up to nine years), carry heavier penalties.[1] |
| Advertising sexual services | Restricted Breach: criminal offence | No Penal Code article specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Advertising on behalf of a venue or third party that habitually promotes others' sexual acts with clients may support liability under article 306.[1] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
Selling sex is not an offence under the Penal Code. According to press reporting, article 66 of the Police Penal Act (Politiestrafwet) makes it a petty offence, punishable by a fine or up to one month's detention, for a woman of known immoral conduct to attract the attention of passers-by on the public road.[1][2]
Confidence: medium. The Police Penal Act text could not be opened; the description of its article 66 comes from a De Ware Tijd report of 9 December 2024.
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
Paying an adult for sex is not an offence. Sexual acts with a person aged 16 or 17 who makes themselves available for paid sexual acts carry up to six years and a fifth-category fine.[1]
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
Article 306, headed "Bordeelhouder" (brothel keeper), punishes whoever makes a profession or habit of intentionally causing or promoting sexual acts by others with third parties with up to two years' imprisonment and a fourth-category fine. Press reporting describes sex work in bars and casinos in Paramaribo despite the ban.[1][2][3]
The article reads: "Degene die van het opzettelijk teweegbrengen of bevorderen van ontucht door anderen met derden een beroep of een gewoonte maakt, wordt gestraft met gevangenisstraf van ten hoogste twee jaren en geldboete van de vierde categorie." In the 2005 consolidated text the same wording, introduced in 1915, carried up to one year or a fine of up to 1,000 guilders; the 2015 revision kept the offence and doubled the maximum prison term.
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Habitual or professional promotion of others' sexual acts with third parties is punished under article 306 (up to two years). A man who as a pimp profits from a woman's prostitution commits a petty offence under article 503 (up to six weeks' detention and/or a fine). Procuring involving minors (art. 305) and trafficking for exploitation, including in prostitution (art. 334, up to nine years), carry heavier penalties.[1]
The 2015 explanatory memorandum says the pimping offence in article 503 was kept so that the authorities can intervene in serious cases.
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
No Penal Code article specifically on advertising sexual services was found. Advertising on behalf of a venue or third party that habitually promotes others' sexual acts with clients may support liability under article 306.[1]
Confidence: low. Inference from the general procuring offence; the Police Penal Act, media law and online rules were not reviewed.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| Wet van 30 maart 2015, houdende nadere wijziging van het Wetboek van Strafrecht (G.B. 1911 no. 1, zoals laatstelijk gewijzigd bij S.B. 2012 no. 70) in verband met herziening van het Wetboek van Strafrecht (S.B. 2015 no. 44) Act of 30 March 2015 revising the Penal Code (S.B. 2015 no. 44) arts. 303a, 305, 306, 334, 503 | Current text of the offences on procuring (art. 305), brothel keeping (art. 306), paying for sex with 16-17-year-olds (art. 303a), trafficking (art. 334) and pimping (art. 503).[1] |
Timeline
Sources
- Wet van 30 maart 2015, houdende nadere wijziging van het Wetboek van Strafrecht (G.B. 1911 no. 1, zoals laatstelijk gewijzigd bij S.B. 2012 no. 70) in verband met herziening van het Wetboek van Strafrecht (S.B. 2015 no. 44) (Act of 30 March 2015 further amending the Penal Code in connection with its revision). De Nationale Assemblée van Suriname, 30 March 2015. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- Sekswerkers verbergen zich voor politie in casino (Sex workers hide from police in casino). De Ware Tijd, 9 December 2024. news · accessed 30 October 2026
- Wetboek van Strafrecht Suriname (2005), Titel XIV: Misdrijven tegen de zeden (Penal Code of Suriname (2005 consolidated text), Title XIV: Offences against morals). Wikisource (transcription of the official 2005 consolidated text). legislation · accessed 30 October 2026