Country fact sheet: Guinea
Women’s rights in law and practice in Guinea: key indicators, treaties, ten laws and their gaps, recent developments and reforms recommended.
Last updated · October 30, 2026
Country fact sheet · Guinea · women’s rights in law and practice
Read from RFLD’s Guinea 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 16/12/2003 / ratified 16/04/2012 / deposited 17/09/2012 |
| CEDAW | signed 17/07/1980 / ratified 09/08/1982 |
| CEDAW Optional Protocol | Not a party |
| African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child | signed 22/05/1998 / ratified 27/05/1999 / deposited 21/01/2000 |
| 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 | Loi n° 2016/059/AN portant Code pénal, article 248 | The victim can end prosecution when incapacity is under 20 days, and the World Bank found no specific domestic violence legislation. |
| Rape and sexual offences | Loi n° 2016/059/AN portant Code pénal, articles 267 to 270 | Marital rape is not set out as a distinct offence. |
| Female genital mutilation | Loi n° 2016/059/AN portant Code pénal, articles 258 to 261 | Prosecutions are few and sentences are often suspended or light. |
| Child marriage and age of marriage | Children’s Code (2008) | The President, on request of the Minister of Justice, may authorise marriage before 18 for ‘serious reasons’ with parental consent. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (2019) raised concern about prevalence, impunity of perpetrators and weak protection schemes. |
| Family and personal status | Loi L/2019/035/AN du 4 juillet 2019 portant Code civil, articles 241, 242, 245, 286, 305 to 319, 336 and 354 | Polygamy is allowed up to four wives, and divorced women face a waiting period before remarriage. |
| Land and property | Ordonnance n° 92/019 du 30 mars 1992 portant Code foncier et domanial, articles 1 and 2 | Unpaid domestic contributions are not valued in marital property (Civil Code article 619). |
| Abortion and sexual and reproductive health | Loi L/2000/010/AN du 10 juillet 2000 relative à la santé de la reproduction, articles 6 and 13 | – |
| Political participation and quotas | Constitution of 2025, article 105; Transitional Charter, article 60 | – |
| Human rights defenders | Loi L/2005/013/AN on associations and Loi L/2005/014/AN on NGOs (4 July 2005) | A 2017 draft law on the protection of human rights defenders was never adopted. |
| Online violence and cybercrime | Loi L/2016/037/AN relative à la cybersécurité et à la protection des données à caractère personnel | – |
Recent developments
- 31 May 2026. Legislative elections: 60 women elected to the 147-seat National Assembly (40.8 per cent); the Assembly convened on 17 July 2026, ending the transition.
- March 2026. 40 political parties dissolved, including the former ruling party.
- 28 December 2025. Presidential election won by the transitional leader with 86.7 per cent; major opposition leaders barred.
- 21 September 2025. New Constitution approved by referendum (89.4 per cent yes), boycotted by the opposition.
- August 2025. Three political parties suspended for 90 days.
Reforms recommended
- Remove the presidential exception that allows marriage under 18 in the Children’s Code (Girls Not Brides).
- End impunity for child marriage and strengthen protection schemes for children (UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, 2019).
- Lift bans on political parties and media outlets (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, September 2025).
- Restore an independent election management body (International IDEA, June 2025).
- Investigate enforced disappearances of opposition figures (International IDEA, December 2025).
Laws on sexual violence adopted since 2020
RFLD and its member organisations contributed to the advocacy behind these laws in Guinea:
- Loi L/2022/12/CNT du 23 septembre 2022 portant aide juridictionnelle (2022). Organises legal aid for people who cannot pay for justice.
See all 13 laws in the register of laws and policies we helped change.
RFLD in Guinea
Guinea is one of the eight countries of RFLD’s Afrofeminist Initiative for Human Rights Development in Francophone West Africa, supported by the SEA-T programme (GIZ, on behalf of BMZ). See our countries of work and the West Africa legal scorecard 2026.
Sources and updates
Every entry comes from RFLD’s Guinea 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 ratified the Maputo Protocol?
Yes. Guinea’s status is: signed 16/12/2003 / ratified 16/04/2012 / deposited 17/09/2012.
What is the minimum age of marriage in Guinea?
Sets 18 as the minimum age of marriage. Gap recorded: The President, on request of the Minister of Justice, may authorise marriage before 18 for ‘serious reasons’ with parental consent. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (2019) raised concern about prevalence, impunity of perpetrators and weak protection schemes. (Children’s Code (2008))
Is female genital mutilation banned in Guinea?
Loi n° 2016/059/AN portant Code pénal, articles 258 to 261. Defines and prohibits all forms of FGM. Penalties are heavier when it causes disability or death. They are also heavier when it is performed in a health facility. Gap recorded: Prosecutions are few and sentences are often suspended or light.
Does Guinea have a law on violence against women?
Loi n° 2016/059/AN portant Code pénal, article 248. Assault and wounding between spouses is punished under the general provisions on violence; there is no dedicated law on violence against women. Gap recorded: The victim can end prosecution when incapacity is under 20 days, and the World Bank found no specific domestic violence legislation.
Does Guinea have a gender quota?
Constitution of 2025, article 105; Transitional Charter, article 60. Allocates remaining proportional seats in favour of women candidates and candidates with disabilities; the Transitional Charter required at least 30 per cent women among designated members.
Cite and share
How to cite: RFLD (2026). Country fact sheet: Guinea. Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement. https://rflgd.org/country-fact-sheets/guinea-fact-sheet/ (accessed [date]).
Free to quote and share with attribution. Corrections: programs@rflgd.org.
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