Overview of Human Rights in Guinea

Guinea is a constitutional republic. While the governments’ human rights record has improved in recent years, serious problems remain.

- The police in Guinea are known to use unlawful methods when dealing with suspects and detainees. Arbitrary arrest, detention, beatings and torture, even killing of some suspects and detainees are all known methods of abuse used.

- Corruption runs through all levels of the government. Infringements upon citizens’ right to privacy and arbitrary restrictions of the freedoms of speech, press, association, and assembly have been noted.

- Societal discrimination against ethnic minorities is also a problem.

Note: Guinea has been beset by a loss of international financial assistance and humanitarian aid. Members of the international community state that reforms to the country's human rights record must occur before aid flows again. In the past year, the government took steps to improve freedom of the press, by paving the way for private radio and television. It also agreed to some reforms in the political process, such as open dialogue with opposition parties, and transparent ballot boxes. Freedom of movement and freedom of assembly increased, though they remain mitigated by government interference.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

160th out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.