Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Indigenous and Tribal Populations Convention, 1957 (No. 107) - Guinea - Bissau (Ratification: 1977)

Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Convention. The Committee notes that, referring to its previous comments concerning the applicability of the Convention to certain linguistic and ethnic groups, the Government indicates that, even though there are various ethnic groups and populations who have their own customary rules and characteristics that are distinct from each other, the national laws and regulations are applied to all ethnic groups. The Government adds that, therefore, it does not seem necessary to devise specific laws for each ethnic group.

The Committee notes that Decree No. 8/2005 on the creation of a Marine Community Protected Area (AMPC) of the islands of Formosa, Nago and Chediã (the Urok islands) aims at the sustainable development of the local populations by empowering the communities who live there and ensuring their full participation in the conservation of these islands for current and future generations. The Decree’s preamble stipulates that the Bijagós archipelago, where the Urok islands are located, has abundant fishing resources and a significant biological diversity that has been preserved until now, thanks to the traditional management methods practised by the Bijagó people. The Committee notes in this regard the adoption of the second Management Plan of the AMPC of the Urok islands. It notes that this plan provides for a governance and participatory management system of the AMPC with broad representativity of the communities with regard to coordination, decision-making and realization of the plan, along with the oversight of the recognized and strengthened local traditional authorities. In addition, the plan indicates that the cultural patrimony of the islands, which include some ten smaller sacred islands and many places of ceremony, as well as the vitality of the traditions, evidences the preservation of the Bijagó community’s own values as a whole.

The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the implementation of the second Management Plan of the AMPC of the Urok islands, particularly with regard to the protection of the values and traditions of the peoples concerned; the promotion of their social, economic and cultural development; and how these populations participate in the implementation of the plan. It also requests the Government to provide more general information on the protection of the institutions, values and lands of the Bijagó population throughout the archipelago; the measures aimed at promoting their economic and social development; and how the members of this population are involved.

Furthermore, the Committee requests the Government to specify the size of the Bijagó population and, where possible, that of other groups among the national population who could benefit from the protection of the Convention given their social tribal or semi-tribal structure, or the existence of their own customs and traditions (Article 1(1)(a) of the Convention).