Country fact sheet: Guinea-Bissau
Women’s rights in law and practice in Guinea-Bissau: key indicators, treaties, ten laws and their gaps, recent developments and reforms recommended.
Last updated · October 30, 2026
Country fact sheet · Guinea-Bissau · women’s rights in law and practice
Read from RFLD’s Guinea-Bissau legal profile, October 2026. “Gaps recorded” means a treaty body, the government or national organisations have reported shortcomings in the law or its application.
Treaty commitments
| Maputo Protocol | signed 08/03/2005 / ratified 19/06/2008 / deposited 14/10/2008 |
| CEDAW | signed 17/07/1980 / ratified 23/08/1985 |
| CEDAW Optional Protocol | signed 12/09/2000 / ratified 05/08/2009 |
| African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child | Ratified 19/06/2008 |
| ILO C190 Violence and Harassment Convention | Not ratified (as of May 2026) |
Ten laws that matter for women, and their gaps
| Topic | Law | Gaps recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Gender-based and domestic violence | Lei n.º 6/2014, de 4 de fevereiro (Lei de Violência Doméstica) | Women’s organisations reported to the 2025 UPR that the law still lacks implementing regulations for its effective application. |
| Rape and sexual offences | Decreto-Lei n.º 4/93, de 13 de outubro (Código Penal), artigos 133.º e 134.º | – |
| Female genital mutilation | Lei n.º 14/2011, de 6 de julho (prevention and suppression of female genital mutilation) | Medicalised FGM is not expressly named in the text. |
| Child marriage and age of marriage | Lei n.º 11/2010, de 17 de setembro (Saúde Reprodutiva e Planeamento Familiar), artigo 5.º | UNDP noted that in practice no sanctions are applied to those who force minors to marry. |
| Family and personal status | Código Civil, artigos 1672.º, 1674.º e 1605.º | The World Bank found that a married woman cannot choose her residence or be head of household on the same terms as a man and that remarriage rules differ for women. |
| Land and property | Código Civil, artigos 1678.º e 1717.º a 1731.º | Married women do not have the same rights as men to own and administer immovable property. |
| Abortion and sexual and reproductive health | Lei n.º 11/2010, de 17 de setembro (Saúde Reprodutiva e Planeamento Familiar) | – |
| Political participation and quotas | Lei n.º 4/2018, de 3 de dezembro (Lei da Paridade) | Women’s organisations called in 2025 for the parity law to be regulated and effectively implemented. |
See the West Africa legal scorecard 2026.
Recent developments
- January 2026. National Transition Council approved a new constitution; general elections announced for 6 December 2026.
- 14 December 2025. ECOWAS rejected the transition plan and warned of targeted sanctions.
- 12 December 2025. 66-member National Transition Council took office in place of the parliament.
- 4 December 2025. Junta dissolved the Superior Council of the Judiciary; a transitional charter set a one-year transition.
- 26 November 2025. Military High Command seized power and suspended the electoral process.
- 23 November 2025. Presidential and legislative elections held; results never announced.
Reforms recommended
- Set 18 as the minimum age of marriage for girls and boys without parental-consent exceptions, in line with Article 6 of the Maputo Protocol (Girls Not Brides).
- Adopt a national strategy or action plan to end child marriage (Girls Not Brides).
- Restore the Superior Council of the Judiciary and judicial independence (International IDEA, December 2025).
- Hold the general elections announced for 6 December 2026 and apply the 36 per cent Parity Law quota to candidate lists.
Sexual violence law reform since 2020
RFLD and its member organisations have advocated for stronger laws on sexual violence in Guinea-Bissau since 2020. Pending: No new law on sexual violence recorded since 2020; advocacy continues.
Sources and updates
Every entry comes from RFLD’s Guinea-Bissau legal profile, which cites the official text or source for each line. Last checked: October 2026. Corrections: programs@rflgd.org.
Frequently asked questions
Has Guinea-Bissau ratified the Maputo Protocol?
Yes. Guinea-Bissau’s status is: signed 08/03/2005 / ratified 19/06/2008 / deposited 14/10/2008.
What is the minimum age of marriage in Guinea-Bissau?
Raised the minimum age of marriage to 18 for both women and men, from 14 for girls and 16 for boys. Gap recorded: UNDP noted that in practice no sanctions are applied to those who force minors to marry. (Lei n.º 11/2010, de 17 de setembro (Saúde Reprodutiva e Planeamento Familiar), artigo 5.º)
Is female genital mutilation banned in Guinea-Bissau?
Lei n.º 14/2011, de 6 de julho (prevention and suppression of female genital mutilation). Prohibits FGM in all its forms, with 2 to 6 years of imprisonment and 3 to 9 years when the victim is a minor. It sets penalties for accomplices and for parents who fail to prevent it. Cross-border FGM is also punished. Health professionals have a duty to report. Gap recorded: Medicalised FGM is not expressly named in the text.
Does Guinea-Bissau have a law on violence against women?
Lei n.º 6/2014, de 4 de fevereiro (Lei de Violência Doméstica). Criminalises domestic violence in its physical, sexual, psychological and economic forms, with prison terms of up to 12 years for sexual violence, and sets out victims’ status and rights. Gap recorded: Women’s organisations reported to the 2025 UPR that the law still lacks implementing regulations for its effective application.
Does Guinea-Bissau have a gender quota?
Lei n.º 4/2018, de 3 de dezembro (Lei da Paridade). Requires at least 36% women on electoral candidate lists and sets sanctions for non-compliance.
Cite and share
How to cite: RFLD (2026). Country fact sheet: Guinea-Bissau. Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement. https://rflgd.org/country-fact-sheets/guinea-bissau-fact-sheet/ (accessed [date]).
Free to quote and share with attribution. Corrections: programs@rflgd.org.
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