OHCHR Establishes Guinea Office

The United Nations announced today that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights will open an office in the Guinean capital of Conakry in order to “assist the Government in reporting on compliance with international human rights treaties. It will also advise on establishing a National Human Rights Institution and on judicial reforms, help combat impunity for human rights violations including sexual and gender-based violence, and promote social and economic rights“, according to the press release.  The establishment of an OHCHR office was recommended by the International Commission of Inquiry established by the U.N. following a pre-election crackdown by the de facto government last September in which nearly 150 individuals were killed and nearly as many women were subjected to sexual violence.  A transitional government is now in power and Guinea is set to hold elections next month. [UN]

Review of Guinea’s human rights record under the Universal Periodic Review began yesterday (see overview of the recommendations concerning Guinea here, and more on UPR on this blog).  Also, the International Criminal Court has initiated a preliminary examination to determine whether the events of last fall constitute crimes within the court’s jurisdiction (press release here).

The Office of High Commissioner operates other country offices in Angola, Bolivia, Cambodia, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Nepal, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Kosovo (Serbia), Togo, and Uganda. [OHCHR]