The Republic of Guinea Bissau (GW) is governed by a unicameral National People’s Assembly with its seat of government in Bissau, the capital. It is a member of the UN, UNESCO and the World Trade Organization.

Guinea Bissau is the world's 193rd largest economy by GDP and has a population of 1,693,398.¹  Internet users as of June 2012 stood at 43,484, or 2.7% of the population.²  No data exists as to the number of Facebook users in the country.

In Q4 of 2012 the total number of mobile subscribers in Guinea Bissau was approximately 1,116,000 and in Q4 of 2013 the total was approximately 1,046,000, a decrease of 6.29%.  This figure includes both contract and pre-paid connections.³

Currently, the youth population (0 - 14 years) represents 39.8% of the population.⁴

The Second National Strategy for Poverty Reduction in Guinea-Bissau (PRSP II) 2011 - 2015 considers the development of a reliable basic economic infrastructure a key element in reducing poverty.⁵  The telecommunications sector is one of the areas the government plans to address.  As of 2010, only 39% of the population had cell phones, and just 2.7% had Internet access.⁶  In the coming years, the main focus will fall on extending the coverage and improving the quality of telecommunication services.  In this perspective, the government’s policy is to strengthen competition and consolidate a legal framework to encourage private investments, to promote the development of rural telephony, and to develop a national fiber optic network, among other mid-term goals.  

It was originally planned to land the 12,000km long ACE (Africa Coast to Europe) fiber optical submarine cable, which connects thirteen West African countries from France to Sao Tome & Principe, providing high-speed Internet access, in Guinea-Bissau by December 2012.⁷  However, Guinea-Bissau was omitted from the list of benefitting countries, whilst neighboring Gambia and Guinea were connected as planned.⁸  

The focus within education strategy is on providing basic infrastructure and increasing school enrolments. No mention could therefore be found of any technology-related initiatives or plans to teach children about Internet safety.

Guinea-Bissau’s laws do not make any mention of the use of technology to commit crimes against children, but harsher penalties are in place for crimes committed against younger children.

No organizations could be found which provide online safety information to citizens at the present time.

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In the field of education, PRSP II focuses on improving the quality of education, however ICT does not play a part in the government’s current strategy.⁹  Efforts lie on basics such as providing a reliable electricity supply, increasing enrolment rates, recruitment and training of new teachers, and the like.  The development of an ICT in education policy does not appear to be scheduled for the near future and no mention is made of online safety.

This section contains details of the country’s laws as they relate to sexual offenses, children and the use of the Internet in the commission of criminal activity. Where possible, sentence details have been given, including whether an increased custodial penalty is imposed where the victim is a child.

The age of consent for sexual activity in Guinea-Bissau is sixteen. The minimum legal age for marriage is fourteen and the age of majority is eighteen.

There is no law against child pornography or trafficking in persons in Guinea Bissau at the present time.¹⁰

• Article 126, Penal Code.¹¹  Defamation and Libel.  This Article states that anyone who, publicly and in the absence of the victim, by spoken words or by any other means of communication, imputes a fact or issue to the other person which offends their honor or reputation, will be liable to imprisonment for up to one year or a fine.
• Article 127, Penal Code.  Aggravation.  Increases the penalty prescribed in the preceding paragraph by half if (among other things) the offense was committed through the media.
• Article 128, Penal Code.  Proof of Truth.  States that if the accused can prove that the allegations are true, no offense has been committed.
• Article 129, Penal Code.  Discriminatory Insult.  States that if the allegation or insult discriminates the victim’s race, religion or ethnicity, offending his/her honor or reputation, a penalty of two years’ imprisonment or a fine shall apply.
• Article 133, Penal Code.  Rape.  This Article states that anyone who uses violence, serious threat or any other form of coercion to have sexual intercourse with a woman is guilty of rape and will be liable to imprisonment for three to twelve years.  Where the offender takes advantage of the inexperience of the victim due to young age, or of her physical or mental disability, the penalty prescribed above will be increased by one third in its minimum and maximum.
• Article 134, Penal Code.  Sexual Abuse.  States that anyone who has sexual intercourse with a girl aged twelve or above but under sixteen by exploiting their inexperience will be liable to imprisonment for between two and eight years.  The Article also states that sexual intercourse with a person over the age of twelve of either sex will render the offender liable to between one and five years’ imprisonment.  Where the offender uses violence, serious threat or coercion to have intercourse with a minor under the age of twelve the penalty will be between two and ten years’ imprisonment. 
• Article 135, Penal Code.  Sexual Exhibitionism.  Imposes a penalty of three years’ imprisonment or a fine for anyone who harasses another person by sexually exhibiting himself/herself.  The same penalty applies to anyone who has sexual intercourse in the presence of another person against their wishes, or masturbates in front of them. Attempts to commit these offenses are also punishable under this section.
• Article 136, Penal Code.  Exploitation of Sexual Activities of Another Person.  This Article states that anyone who promotes, facilitates or in any other way contributes to the prostitution of others, or who benefits in any way from the prostitution of another person, will be liable to up to three years’ imprisonment or a fine.
• Article 137, Penal Code.  Aggravation.  States that the penalties prescribed in Article 133 and 134 will be increased by one third in their minimum and maximum if the offender has infected the victim with a venereal disease or HIV, or if the victim commits or attempts to commit suicide as a result of the offense.
• Article 208, Penal Code.  Incitement to a Commit an Offense.  This Article states that anyone who publicly, by any means whatsoever, incites the commission of a crime, will be liable to imprisonment for up to two years or a fine.  The same penalty applies to anyone who publicly praises or rewards those who have committed an offense, hence encouraging the commission of similar crimes.

Government

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Non-Government

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Sources

Page last reviewed August 26, 2014

¹ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ (last accessed August 20, 2014)
² http://www.internetworldstats.com (last accessed August 20, 2014)
³ https://gsmaintelligence.com/ (last accessed August 20, 2014)
⁴ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ (last accessed August 20, 2014)
⁵ http://www.imf.org/external/lang/Portuguese/pubs/ft/scr/2011/cr11353p.pdf (last accessed January 29, 2013)
⁶ http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IT.NET.USER.P2 (last accessed January 29, 2013)
⁷ http://business.myjoyonline.com/pages/news/201203/83371.php (last accessed January 29, 2013)
⁸ http://www.orange.com/en/content/download/9044/207540/version/18/file/PR_Orange_ACE_EN_191212.pdf (last accessed January 29, 2013)
⁹ http://www.imf.org/external/lang/Portuguese/pubs/ft/scr/2011/cr11353p.pdf (last accessed January 29, 2013)
¹⁰ http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135958.htm (last accessed January 29, 2013)
¹¹ http://www.fdbissau.org/PDF_files/Dir%20_Penal.pdf (last accessed January 29, 2013)