the authorities lift restrictions on access to certain news websites.1 They were released the same day after being charged with “participating in an illegal assembly on a public highway”. SEXUAL AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE On 4 April, four men were sentenced by the court of first instance in Mafanco, Conakry to between one and 20 years’ imprisonment for the rape and other abuses leading to the death of M’Mah Sylla on 20 November 2021. The perpetrators were also ordered to pay GNF 1 billion (around EUR 110,000) in damages to the victim’s father. On 18 October, the UN agencies in Guinea called on the authorities to fulfil their obligations to combat violence against women and girls, following the death of a nine-year-old girl after being raped in Dubréka, Kindia region four days earlier. RIGHT TO A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT In March, the president officially relaunched work on the Simandou iron ore mine, planned to include the construction of a railway and a port, despite concerns by civil society organizations about the consequences on local residents’ economic and social rights, and impacts on climate change. After 500 fishermen complained of skin rashes, Guinean authorities carried out an inspection on 14 April and found large areas of pollution 74km off the coast of Conakry. On 19 June, the Ministry of Justice asked the Court for the Repression of Economic and Financial Offences to initiate legal proceedings against “suspected ore carriers, individuals or legal entities that own, use or are responsible for the said ships”, for “alleged acts of marine pollution causing skin rashes among small-scale fishermen and environmental damage”. 1. “Guinea: Amnesty International calls for charges to be dropped against 13 journalists who took part in a peaceful rally”, 19 October The State of the World’s Human Rights HAITI Republic of Haiti Hunger and lack of essential goods and services were widespread. Gang violence including killings, abductions and sexual violence remained unpunished. Judges, prosecutors, journalists and human rights defenders were at risk. Hundreds of thousands of people remained internally displaced or fled the country, while the USA and the Dominican Republic offered Haitians limited access to international protection and expelled thousands of them. BACKGROUND Criminal groups were present throughout the country and exercised considerable influence over important areas of the country, including the capital, Port-au-Prince, and its metropolitan area. In October, the UN Security Council approved the deployment of a multinational security support mission in Haiti, a measure requested by the Haitian government. The mission was going to be led by Kenyan law enforcement, which had a record of excessive and unnecessary use of force, including lethal force.1 ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS The scarcity of essential goods and services continued throughout the year. In July, the World Food Programme announced that it would have to stop providing food assistance to 100,000 people due to budget cuts, despite the fact that half of the population (4.9 million people) were unable to source food daily. Despite a slight reduction in expected hunger levels announced by the government and UN agencies, millions continued to lack sufficient food, and environmental changes and climate shocks affected food production. Health services were insufficient and had reduced capacity due to economic constraints and violence that had caused 189