A/HRC/18/2 491. The delegation stated that, in past decades, the issue had developed in such a way that it had assumed the nature of a conflict between Maroon and indigenous people, on the one hand, and the State, on the other side; thus, a conflict between the Government and a group of citizens. 492. Owing in part to different definitions of the issue, various interpretations of both the historical context as well as the result of the development process after its decolonization and the ambitions of the State, this matter could not be dealt with adequately, and no solution had yet been found. The need for a satisfactory solution was more pressing than ever. 493. The delegation stated that the Government would need to identify an instrument through which the entire nation would come to realize that the issue of land rights was a national one. Against this backdrop, land rights conferences, which had been planned by the Government, strove to provide a platform for representatives from all areas of society, to arrive at a redefinition of the issue, thus laying a basis for an environment in which the rights of all citizens, including those of the Maroon and indigenous people, might be respected and realized within the scope of the State’s ambitions. 494. The delegation stated that another highly sensitive issue was that of specific recognition of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals. The Government felt that the Constitution of the Republic of Suriname provided adequate protection from discrimination to all. According to the Constitution, no individual may be discriminated against on the basis of birth, sex, race, language, ancestry, education, political persuasion, economic status, social circumstance or any other status. 495. Notwithstanding the above, any attempt to embed specific rights for LGBT individuals in its legislation was doomed to failure without the support of Parliament. Since Parliament was but a reflection of the people, any legislative initiative regarding such a highly controversial issue had to be preceded by a broad national discussion, during which the views of both LGBT individuals and those of other relevant groups in society have to be taken into account and respected. 496. Lastly, the delegation stated that a number of protocols and conventions could not at this time be ratified since such decisions would require a broad national discussion, as should be the case for issues relating to ILO Convention No. 169. 497. The recommendations that could not be accepted were grouped in chapter IV of Suriname’s addendum to the report of the Working Group. 498. In conclusion, although a number of recommendations had not at this time been accepted by Suriname, the Government was very much aware of the fact that they provided a challenge to improving the overall human rights situation in the country. These recommendations would thus enjoy the continued attention of the Government of Suriname. 2. Views expressed by Member and observer States of the Human Rights Council on the review outcome 499. Algeria congratulated Suriname on its acceptance of the majority of the recommendations made during its universal periodic review, noting that more than 71 per cent of them had been accepted. It expressed particular satisfaction that Suriname had accepted the four recommendations made by Algeria, on strengthening the participation of women in the political sphere; the fight against the trafficking and exploitation of children; the fight against poverty by paying specific attention to the economic, social and cultural rights of the most disadvantaged; and the establishment of a national human rights institution in accordance with international standards. Algeria expressed the hope that the GE.12-17756 151