Guinea-Bissau - Universal Periodic Review

UPR 35, January 24, 2020
Recommendations by Canada

Background

According to UPR Info, a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) that tracks the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process, in the first two cycles of the UPR, Guinea-Bissau received 151 recommendations, of which 147 were accepted (an acceptance rate of 97.35%). Canada’s previous recommendations to Guinea-Bissau were related to female genital mutilation, violence against women and the rights of minority groups.

Since 2015, an ongoing power struggle between the executive and legislature has impeded the government’s ability to strengthen institutions, address social and economic challenges, and implement measures to safeguard and strengthen the protection and promotion of human rights.

Guinea-Bissau has made notable progress in some areas, however. The presidential elections of 2019 resulted in a democratic transfer of power peaceful and credible, despite political challenges before they were held (to be confirmed). In addition, the legislative elections in March 2019 were also well conducted and resulted in the appointment of a consensual government with a gender-equal cabinet. Guinea-Bissau also adopted a gender parity law in May 2019 under which political party lists for elective positions must be gender equal.

Judicial institutions continue to be weak, exposing Guinea-Bissau to the influence of organized crime, corruption and trafficking of narcotics. According to Amnesty International, other concerns in the judicial sector include arbitrary detention, lack of accountability for human rights violations, and poor prison conditions. Although Guinea-Bissau continues to suffer from high-rates of child marriage, recent years have seen an important decline. Despite a 2011 law that prohibits female genital mutilation, the prevalence rate remains high at 45% according to “28 Too Many”, a non-governmental organization. Prevalence of child labour among 12-14 year-olds has increased in recent years, from 40 percent in 2010 to 45 per cent in 2014, according to UNICEF. Guinea-Bissau remains an important source country within the region for trafficked persons – including children – in particular young religious students known as talibés.

Recommendations

Thank you, Mr. President.

Canada thanks Guinea-Bissau for its presentation and welcomes the appointment of a gender-balanced cabinet and the adoption of a gender parity law in 2019.

Canada recommends that Guinea-Bissau:

1. Strengthen measures to prevent child marriage, including interagency coordination, public education, and outreach with at-risk girls and boys.
2. Effectively implement the Federal Law to Prevent, Fight and Suppress Female Genital Mutilation (2011), including through outreach and enforcement, particularly in areas of high prevalence.
3. Strengthen efforts to prevent, investigate and prosecute human trafficking offences targeting children, including those related to forced begging and sex tourism. 
4. Ensure effective services and access to justice for child victims of violence, abuse and exploitation.
5. Effectively implement the 2019 gender parity law to make governance structures more inclusive and gender-balanced.