Vice President Gregory Rusland held talks with UNESCO representatives in The Hague on Thursday, October 29, 2026, on strengthening cooperation between Suriname and the international organisation. The discussion covered, among other things, combating racism and discrimination, the legacy of slavery, climate change, water management and artificial intelligence.
The talks took place on the sidelines of the UNESCO conference against racism and discrimination in The Hague. Rusland spoke with Professor Denise Pires de Carvalho, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Sciences, and Gustavo Merino, Director for Social Policies.
An important topic during the meeting was the role of science and research in combating racism and discrimination. UNESCO stressed that scientific research can help refute ideas that justify discrimination. Research can also provide greater insight into the historical causes of social inequality.
Legacy of slavery and reparatory justice
The discussion also addressed the consequences of the legacy of slavery and the international debate on reparatory justice, also known as reparatory justice.
UNESCO informed the Surinamese Vice President about its activities in this area and the opportunities for Suriname to participate in international dialogues and scientific partnerships.
The global network of UNESCO Chairs was also discussed. Through this network, opportunities could arise for research into slavery, citizenship and the social position of descendants of enslaved persons.
In addition, it will be examined which historical sites in Suriname could possibly be included in UNESCO initiatives aimed at preserving history and collective memories.
Cooperation in water and climate
In addition to social issues, cooperation in the fields of science, water management, biodiversity and climate change was discussed.
According to the possibilities discussed, existing UNESCO programmes, including Man and the Biosphere and the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme, may offer starting points for further cooperation with Suriname.
The relationship between humans and nature was also discussed during the meeting.
Artificial intelligence and young people
Another topic of discussion was the growing influence of technology on society. UNESCO provided an explanation of its international work in the areas of the ethics of artificial intelligence, open science and neurotechnology.
Attention was also paid to the position of young people in a society in which digital technology is playing an increasingly important role.
Rusland wants to make cooperation more concrete
Vice President Rusland indicated during the talks that, from his position, he wants to devote more attention to cooperation between Suriname and UNESCO.
According to him, coordination will take place with the relevant Surinamese ministries to identify existing bottlenecks and new cooperation opportunities.
“Suriname is open to more intensive cooperation with UNESCO. The topics discussed today directly affect our development: from education and science to social justice, technology, water, climate and the preservation of our heritage. We will examine where we can translate this cooperation into concrete initiatives for Suriname,” Rusland said.
According to the information provided, UNESCO has indicated that it is willing to further deepen cooperation with Suriname and make knowledge and expertise available for possible follow-up initiatives.
No concrete agreements on projects, funding or a timetable for implementation have yet been announced.
