Overview of Human Rights in Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau is a multi-party republic. Since its 1974 independence from Portugal, Guinea-Bissau has experienced much political, social and military upheaval. A 2003 coup attempt upset the already tenuous situation in the nation. The election of João Bernardo Vieira as president marked the path back to constitutional government.

The government works to respect the civil and human rights of its citizens. However, dire economic and social conditions hinder stability in the region.  Current concerns include the following:

- The government uses suppression of political opposition and purging of political dissidents to maintain its control. The police are known to use violent means when dispersing otherwise peaceful demonstrations.

- Human rights activists are often arrested and beaten due to the work they are trying to promote.

- The abuse of children, including child labor, continues to be a problem in the region.

- Child trafficking is also an issue.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

173rd 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.