Child Protection

In Guinea-Bissau, many children grow up without basic legal protection. Only 46% of children under 5 have their births registered, depriving them of a legal identity and access to essential services. Institutional coverage is weak outside urban centers, and the coexistence of customary and formal legal systems leaves many women and children without effective protection.

Harmful practices remain widespread. More than 50% of women aged 15 to 49 have undergone Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), with prevalence exceeding 90% in some areas of Gabú and Bafatá. Despite being banned by law since 2011, the practice persists in secret and at increasingly younger ages.

Child violence and abuse remain significant problems, compounded by the limited capacity of protection systems at the subnational level. Access to justice remains difficult, especially for women and children in rural areas, where the costs of legal action pose an insurmountable barrier.

UNICEF’s Response

To create a safer environment, UNICEF works both in providing direct services and in strengthening protection systems and driving behavior change at the community level.

Birth Registration

UNICEF integrated birth registration into routine health services. In 2025, 40,306 children received free birth certificates — including 8,760 before their first birthday. Sixty health facilities provided this service during the transition to the SIREC digital system.

Violence Prevention and Case Management

UNICEF supported parenting programmes and community protection mechanisms. In 2025, 962 cases of violence were managed, five regional child protection units were rehabilitated and equipped, and 24,913 children and adolescents strengthened their capacity to protect themselves and seek help.

Elimination of Harmful Practices

In 2025, 83,203 people from 168 communities were engaged in actions against FGM, child marriage, and gender-based violence, and 40 communities publicly declared the abandonment of FGM. A comprehensive situational analysis in high-prevalence regions will guide future prevention strategies.

Access to Justice

UNICEF, UNDP, and OHCHR supported a network of seven Access to Justice Centers (CAJs) across the country, providing legal information, mediation, and referral. Between 2022 and 2024, the CAJs processed 7,711 cases, nearly half of which involved women. In parallel, 1,440 children and young people participated in national policy consultations.