Woman laws at Guinea
Guinea has made several legal advancements to promote women's rights, though challenges persist in implementation and societal norms. Below is an overview of key legislative developments concerning women's rights in Guinea:
🗳️ Law on Parity (2019)
In May 2019, Guinea enacted the Law on Parity, mandating that women constitute 50% of candidates on electoral lists for national and local elections, as well as for positions in public institutions This law aims to rectify the underrepresentation of women in political offices, where they previously held only 21.9% of seats in the National Assembly, despite comprising over half of the population and electorate
⚖️ Constitutional Amendments (2020)
A 2020 constitutional referendum introduced several provisions to enhance women's rights
**Banning Female Genital Mutilation (FGM):**The practice of FGM is now prohibited under the new constitution
**Equal Divorce Rights:**Spouses are granted equal rights in divorce proceedings
**Gender Representation in Government:**The constitution stipulates that no gender shall constitute more than two-thirds of government institutions These amendments reflect a commitment to gender equality in governance
⚖️ Abortion Laws
Abortion in Guinea is illegal except under specific circumstances
**Legal Grounds:**If the pregnancy poses a threat to the woman's life or health, results from rape, or involves a minor
**Legal Process:**Therapeutic abortions require approval from a medical panel, while abortions resulting from rape must be authorized by an ethics committee Despite these provisions, the country faces challenges with unsafe abortions and high maternal mortality rates
🧕 Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Guinea has one of the highest rates of FGM globally, with approximately 96% of women aged 15–49 having undergone the procedur. FGM is illegal under Article 265 of the Penal Code, which prescribes severe penalties, including the death sentence if the victim dies within 40 days of the procedur. However, the practice remains prevalent, particularly in rural areas, posing significant challenges to enforcemen.
🏛️ Nationality Law
Historically, Guinean nationality laws were gender-biased, restricting women's ability to confer nationality to their childrn Reforms in 1983 addressed some of these disparities, allowing children born in Guinea to acquire nationality regardless of their parent's nationaliy However, women still face administrative hurdles in passing on their nationality and registering their children's birts.
📊 Political Participation and Social Challengs
Despite legal advancements, women in Guinea continue to encounter significant barrirs:
Political Representation Women hold only 18% of parliamentary seats and a mere 1.75% of mayoral positins.
Education and Literacy The female literacy rate stands at 22.7%, compared to 38.1% for en.Gender-Based Violence Approximately 63% of women report experiencing domestic abse.
Initiatives like Femme Au Pouvoir aim to empower women through leadership training, targeting a 30% female representation in elected positins.
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While Guinea has enacted several laws to promote women's rights, the effective implementation and societal acceptance of these laws remain ongoing challene.Continued advocacy and reform are essential to achieve true gender equality in the counry.
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