STORY
At the United Nations Human Rights Council, the United Kingdom has called on Guinea to honour its commitment to hold presidential elections by the end of 2025 and to implement reforms that uphold human rights and democratic principles. Delivering the UK’s statement during Guinea’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Eleanor Sanders, the UK’s Ambassador for Human Rights to the UN, acknowledged Guinea’s efforts to protect human rights and welcomed steps taken towards restoring constitutional order. However, she emphasised the necessity for Guinea to take urgent action to address corruption within the judiciary and public administration, ensuring adherence to international standards.
Highlighting concerns over freedom of expression, Sanders urged the Guinean government to decriminalise peaceful demonstrations and lift the ban on mainstream private media. Such measures, she noted, would strengthen legal protections for journalists, the media, and civil society.
The UK presented three key recommendations for Guinea:
– Ensure that the electoral processes in 2025 are credible, including the constitutional referendum in September and subsequent local, legislative, and presidential elections.
– Promote freedom of expression by decriminalising defamation, lifting bans on private media channels, and permitting peaceful public demonstrations.
– Take immediate steps to combat corruption in the judiciary and public administration, upholding due process in line with international standards.
The UK’s statement underscores its stated commitment to supporting Guinea in its journey towards democratic governance and the protection of human rights.