Sao Tome and Principe - Overview

In law, the São Tomé and Príncipe constitution provides strong protections for fundamental freedoms related to civic space. In practice, organised civil society considers itself at an ‘embryonic stage’ and in need of support and capacity strengthening. A lack of resources limits the effectiveness of CSOs. Other challenges identified in the country include occasional security force violence against citizens. São Tomé and Príncipe lacks an independent human rights institution, although the government has committed to establishing one in response to recommendations received during the country's UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review in 2015.