The Saamaka are rising once again—this time to demand full recognition of their collective rights, nearly two decades after a landmark international court victory.
The #StandWithSaamakaPeople campaign, led by the Association of Saamaka Communities (VSG), aims to build international pressure on the Government of Suriname to comply with the 2007 Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling and fully recognize the collective rights of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples.
#StandWithSaamakaPeople
The Saamaka are an Afro-Descendant Tribal Nation from Suriname who have lived in harmony with nature for over 300 years, protecting approximately 1.4 million hectares of the Amazon rainforest.
But today, unsustainable logging and mining, enabled by government policies, threaten both their rights and forests.
A Historic Victory for Land and Dignity
In 2007, the Saamaka achieved a major legal victory when the Inter-American Court of Human Rights mandated the government to stop logging and mining concessions in the area, demarcate their territory, and legally recognize their collective ownership rights over the land.
A Promise Broken
Almost two decades later, the government of Suriname has not complied with the ruling. On the contrary, Saamaka’s human rights continue to be violated, and logging and mining industries are destroying their forest at alarming rates.
Rising to Defend Their Forests and Rights
Now, the Saamaka are mobilizing to call upon the Surinamese Government and
the International Community to:
Stand with the Saamaka
Sign the petition to President Chan Santokhi and OAS Secretary General, Albert Ramdin:
Protect the rights of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples to save the Amazon in Suriname
Take Action Now: Stand with the Saamaka People by signing their petition.
