Guinea adopted its first National Action Plan (NAP) in 2009 for the period 2009-2013. The NAP was developed by the Ministry of Social Affairs, of Women and Childhood Promotion, but did not include civil society involvement. The NAP identifies five overarching objectives (“priority intervention axes”): integration of gender questionnaire in development policies and programs; involvement of women and girls in the peace process as well as prevention, management, and settlement of conflicts; protection of women and girls from sexual violence and female genital mutilation; strengthening of integration of women in policy decision processes; and strengthening coordination and partnership for stated interventions. These objectives have corresponding actions and an estimated budget, but lack a monitoring and evaluation framework.
Guinea reported on the implementation of its NAP, as well as WPS commitments, in its national reporting for Beijing+25 and in preparation for CSW64 (2020). Specifically, the country provided the following updates, among others (pp. 10-11):
- Development of the 2nd National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and related UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security for the period 2014-2018.
- A gender and equity unit has been established within the Ministry of National Defense, responsible for monitoring and implementing Resolution 1325. The capacities of the gender and equity department have been strengthened due to the interest generated at the level of the said Ministry in the area of gender; the head of the gender department is solicited in the sub-regional meetings on women and peace.
- Existence of a national committee to combat the proliferation of small arms and light weapons as part of the fight against arms trafficking.
Guinea gained independence from France in 1958, after decades of colonial rule. The country underwent two military coups, in 1984 and 2008. Following the 2009 elections, Guinea experienced political unrest, resulting in the death of protestors as well as the deliberate targeting of women with sexual violence. In 2000, Guinea became home to up to half a million refugees fleeing armed conflicts in Sierra Leone and Liberia. In December 2013, Guinea witnessed the beginnings of the Ebola outbreak, which spread to neighboring countries as well as having a disproportionate impact on women due to preexisting and long-standing structural and gender inequalities.
At the multilateral level, Guinea most recently served as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 2002-2003.