In Guinea-Bissau, joint UN initiative helps build a culture where women can demand their rights
July 2025
In Guinea-Bissau, the Constitution guarantees fundamental political, civil, economic, social, and cultural rights. But for many, especially in rural areas, those rights remain aspirational. Despite formal protections, a fragile justice system and under-resourced institutions, and a patchwork of customary and formal laws have long left many to fend for themselves. In remote communities, trust in state systems is weak, and for some ¨C especially women and children ¨C accessing justice is not just hard; it¡¯s nearly impossible.
Recognizing this urgent need, the Secretary-General¡¯s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) launched a $3.3 million joint initiative in 2022, implemented by UNDP, OHCHR, and UNICEF. The goal: to enhance the human rights protection system in Guinea-Bissau by addressing legal gaps, empowering communities, and making justice truly accessible to all.
With support from the UN Peacebuilding Fund, the initiative strengthened legal information structures such as the Centers for Access to Justice (CAJ)¡ªcommunity-based hubs that provide legal guidance, information, and support. The CAJs also play a bridging role between customary systems and formal law, helping expand the state¡¯s legal footprint across the country. There are seven CAJs in Guinea-Bissau, covering nearly all regions: two in Bissau, and one each in Cacheu, Oio, Quinara, Bafat¨¢, and Gabu.
For Silence to Strength: Cadija¡¯s Story
In the rural village of Sintch? Selo, 38-year-old Cadija had been abandoned by her emigrant husband, but cultural norms¡ªand the prohibitive costs of legal action¡ªkept her trapped in marriage. Though entitled to free legal aid, she first had to secure an ¡°Atestado de Pobreza¡± (poverty certificate), which meant traveling from bank to bank, paying for proof of her own poverty¡ªan insurmountable barrier for many rural women.
That changed when she reached the CAJ in Gabu. Supported by the UN initiative, the CAJ guided her through the process, helped her obtain the certificate, provided legal assistance, and secured full exemption from court fees. For the first time, the justice system heard her voice.
Between 2022 and 2024, the seven CAJs handled 7,711 cases, with women accounting for nearly 47% of submissions: 1,229 in 2022, 1,201 in 2023, and 991 in 2024. In 2024 alone, 2,114 people turned to the CAJs for legal information. Most cases relate to family law¡ªcustody, inheritance, domestic violence¡ªdemonstrating both persistent gaps in protections and a rising willingness to seek redress.
In Gabu alone, the CAJ processed 2,296 cases, with 1,083 involving women. Year-on-year increases¡ªfrom 146 women¡¯s cases in 2021 to 386 in 2022¡ªunderscore growing legal literacy and confidence in the formal system.
Customs, Conflict, and the Power of Legal Aid
Even in the capital, structural barriers persist. In Bissau, 37-year-old Aua faced pressure to marry her late husband¡¯s brother to ¡°keep property in the family.¡± When the marriage collapsed, her in-laws seized her home, and a court erroneously ordered her eviction.
With nowhere else to turn, Aua went to the CAJ in Bissau. After mediation failed, the CAJ pursued legal action, secured child support through the Public Ministry, and reversed the eviction.
A Community Safety Net: Mediation to Courtroom
The initiative also supported the creation of a community-based early warning system, integrating CAJ with Voz di Paz, a local conflict resolution NGO. Disputes are mediated informally; if legal intervention is needed, they¡¯re referred to CAJ. For complex cases, CAJ connects beneficiaries with the Bar Association for free legal representation.
Strengthening Systems from the Ground Up
The initiative adopted a multi-pronged approach to institutional reform:
- UNDP supported CAJ in tailoring legal outreach to vulnerable communities.
- UNICEF helped the Institute of Women and Children (IMC) create a national case management system for child protection, with formal referrals that include CAJ.
- OHCHR trained government officials in five human rights areas: child rights, women¡¯s rights, torture prevention, disability rights, and civil/political/socioeconomic rights.
As state capacity grew, so did civil society engagement. In the 2024 Universal Periodic Review (UPR), civil society submitted 21 reports¡ªa dramatic rise from just two in previous cycles. Reports from Bafata and Gabu focused on women¡¯s and children¡¯s rights, demonstrating that human rights literacy is reaching beyond the capital.
Young Leaders Step In
Ros¨¢lia Djedjo, a youth activist since age 15 and now president of the National Confederation of Students¡¯ Associations, participated in national consultations on the state¡¯s human rights record.
Building for the Future
A key strength of the initiative was its co-creation model: state actors and civil society were involved from the beginning.
This has already led to durable change:
- CAJ is working toward formal recognition as a legal aid institution.
- The State is drafting a report to the African Commission on Human and Peoples¡¯ Rights, informed by the project.
- Civil society now routinely engages with international mechanisms, pushing for reform and accountability.
The Road Ahead
While challenges remain, the initiative has laid the groundwork for a more inclusive, responsive justice system. With 7,711 people reached, nearly half of them women, and hundreds of children protected from harm, Guinea-Bissau is proving that with the right support, rights can be more than words on paper¡ªthey can be realized.
