After more than five decades of authoritarian regimes, Guinea and its people took significant steps toward democratic reform in 2010. Yet, Guineans remain dissatisfied with economic and political barriers and restrictions on freedoms of expression. 2018 legislative elections were tainted by allegations of fraud, resulting in protests and subsequent crackdowns on activists and journalists. Meanwhile, half the population lives in poverty, and young people and women face disproportionately high rates of unemployment. Girls and women face additional cultural and financial barriers to completing their education. Much of the country’s income comes from mining, which provides few benefits for rural communities who have little recourse when their lands are seized or their water sources polluted by industrial projects.
Guinean activists, eager for human rights progress, continue to build organizations and movements demanding greater economic, environmental, and political justice.
The Fund supports 10 grantees in Guinea. These activists’ work includes securing girls’ rights to complete their schooling, combatting sexual violence, training communities and border officials to prevent and respond to child trafficking, and helping communities collaborate and push back against forced displacement by mining companies.
