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For more than twenty years, Guinea was tightly ruled by authoritarian President Lansana Conte. Following Conte’s death in December 2008, a military junta took power in a bloodless coup. The new junta has pledged an eventual return of civilian rule, but the timing and conditions are under constant negotiation.

Guinea’s human rights record is poor. Corruption and mismanagement plague the judicial system, and current laws regarding inheritance, divorce, family authority, and others, discriminate against women and relegate them to second-class status. Despite national laws outlawing the practice, female genital cutting (FGC) is practiced widely. In addition, Guinea is one of West Africa’s most natural resource-rich countries, but Guineans are among the poorest people in the world.  The state has not provided basic services like running water, electricity, passable roads, police and security, or a functional justice system. There is only minimal access to healthcare and schools, which are sparse at best. Many attribute these failings to widespread corruption.

Despite these challenges, Guinea has a growing human rights movement that is demanding change and government accountability.

The Fund’s strategy is to support organizations in Guinea that: 1) promote accountability for human rights abuses to promote the rule of law; 2) foster reforms within the justice system; 3) challenge violence and discrimination against women; and 4) hold companies extracting natural resources accountable for environmental and health abuses and ensure that they respect the rights of local communities.

The Fund aims to provide sustainable support for human rights organizations.  To that end, we maintain a long-term focus on specific countries and regions where we believe strategic grant-making can make a difference in advancing human rights protections over time.  The Fund has had a grants program in Guinea since 2003.