Submitted by Sophie on
This report is part of CRIN's access to justice for children project, looking at the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in national law, the status of children involved in legal proceedings, the legal means to challenge violations of children’s rights and the practical considerations involved in challenging violations.
Guinea has signed and ratified the CRC. As a lawfully ratified and published international treaty, the Convention has higher authority than domestic legislation. The Guinean Constitution contains specific provisions addressing the rights of children. Guinea has also introduced a Children’s Code which incorporates most, though not all, of the provisions set out in the CRC. Whilst children, their representatives, and NGOs have capacity to initiate cases through varying regional mechanisms or domestic courts, there is a major barrier due to lack of subsidised legal assistance. There is also a severe backlog in the courts due to reported corruption and judicial inefficiency. Decisions are rarely enforced in a timely or impartial manner. Many citizens still turn to traditional systems of justice, and customary law, which often overlaps with the formal court system.
