Equatorial Guinea has become the richest country, per capita, in Sub-Saharan Africa since the discovery of oil and natural gas reserves in the 1990s, yet the majority of its people remain extremely poor. Despite its increased wealth, there has been decline in the realization of the rights to food, health and education. These retrogressions are documented in CESR's new statistical analysis of the country's economic and social rights outcomes relative to its resources, and is available in English and Spanish.

According to official UN data, GDP per capita is over US$26,000, yet almost two-thirds of Equatoguineans still live on less than US$1 a day. Access to health and education has deteriorated as the country's economy has boomed. The proportion of children dying before age five has risen in the last 15 years and is now higher than some of the poorest countries in the region. Twenty percent of children under five are chronically malnourished and stunted in their growth (under height for their age), more than in most neighboring countries. Primary school enrollment rates have fallen sharply since the early 1990s, and fewer than 60 per cent of pupils enrolled complete primary school. Boys are almost twice as likely to enroll in secondary school as girls.

Despite these abysmal indicators and the increased country's resources, government expenditure on health and education is far lower than the Sub-Saharan African average. Total health expenditure as a percentage of GDP has declined between 1996 and 2005 from 4.0% to 1.6%. Moreover, spending is not directed at essential priorities -- Equatorial Guinea gives a lower priority to primary education spending than almost any other country in the region.

Lack of budget transparency is a serious obstacle to holding the government accountable for its use of oil-generated wealth. It fuels concerns that official corruption and corporate collusion are diverting resources away from the realization of the basic rights of the majority of the country's people, as documented in the recent Human Rights Watch report: "Well Oiled: Oil and Human Rights in Equatorial Guinea".

The government of Equatorial Guinea has attempted to discredit CESR's findings by claiming that the data utilized in the factsheet is "fabricated" and not actually from the UN sources cited, despite the fact that all sources can be verified through the links and references provided in the document. CESR's Factsheet analyses the latest publicly available data from the World Bank and UN specialized agencies such as UNICEF and WHO.

In statements to the press, Presidential Spokesperson Miguel Oyono accused both CESR and Human Rights Watch of attempting to blackmail the government and undermine the visit to the country of the Spanish Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos. From 9 to 11 July, Moratinos led a delegation made up of representatives of Spanish companies and oplitical parties, with the stated aim of strengthening Spain´s economic relations with the former colony and encouraging the president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, to promore greater democracy and political openness.

Equatorial Guinea appeared before the Universal Periodic Review in December 2009

In light of Equatorial Guinea's appearance before the sixth session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), CESR contributed a submission on the state of economic and social rights in Equatorial Guinea. It focuses in particular on Equatorial Guinea's compliance with its obligations in relation to the fulfillment and realization of economic, social and cultural rights. The submission presents and analyzes key indicators relating to the enjoyment of the rights to health, education, food, water and housing, as well as selected indicators of state policy efforts.The UPR is a unique opportunity, within the Human Rights Council, for international human rights scrutiny. The Summary of Stakeholders' Information used much of CESR's submission in reporting on the economic and social rights situation in the country.

The Report of the Working Group provides a summary of the proceedings of the UPR review process and the conclusions and recommendations. Based on NGO (including CESR) lobbying of governments before the UPR session, many governments stated their concern with Equatorial Guinean government's economic and social rights violations. Canada spoke about the economic and social rights fulfillment not being commensurate with GDP and was concerned about the regression in terms of increased poverty rates. It suggested that health and education should be priorities and given the necessary resources. Other countries, such as the Netherlands, Brazil, Sweden, Azerbaijan and Norway all mentioned issues to do with using resources to fulfill economic and social rights. Portugal made an especially strong emphasis on progressively realizing rights according to maximum available resources and ensuring non-discriminatory policies.

The outcome discussion on Equatorial Guinea will be held at the 13th session of the Human Rights Council.

Other Resources

EG Justice is an NGO working to promote human rights and rule of law in Equatorial Guinea. Based in the US, it coordinates activities on Equatorial Guinea in diverse countries.

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child reviewed Equatorial Guinea's state report in September 2004, and issued the following Concluding Observations (aquí en español) on the government's respect, protection and fulfillment of children's human rights.

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women reviewed Equatorial Guinea's state report in July 2004, and issued the following Concluding Observations (aquí en español) on the government's respect, protection and fulfillment of women's human rights.