PRESS RELEASE   Update Press Statement about the Comprehensive Human Rights Strategy and National Action Plan On 23 January 2013, Botswana underwent its second cycle of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process before the Working Group of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. The Working Group made 175 recommendations for consideration by Botswana. Botswana accepted 93, deferred 43 and declined 39 recommendations. In June 2013, Botswana will provide a report on the deferred recommendations, to the Working Group. The Final Botswana UPR Report will then be adopted before the Human Rights Council in June 2013. A key recommendation which was accepted by Botswana is the development of a comprehensive strategy and national action plan on human rights. In January 2013, Minister Seretse stated that this specific recommendation will enable Botswana to ‘remain fully engaged on the implementation of our human rights obligations’.

RESPONSE TO ARTICLE – NDELU’S MINISTRY CONCLUDES P200M DEAL WITHOUTTENDERING

 RESPONSE TO A QUESTIONNAIRE ON ACQUISITION OF OFFICE SPACE BY THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE JUSTICE AND SECURITY

The Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security wishes to respond to an article by the Botswana Guardian Newspaper titled ‘BDF MAY GO TO WAR IN DRC’ published Friday 08 March, 2013. The Ministry wishes to point out that the heading is misleading in that BDF is not going to war, but rather is involved in the planning of the peace support operation intended for the DRC. For the Botswana Guardian to aver that Botswana has created a tense atmosphere within the region by reneging on the SADC Mandate aimed at resolving the armed conflict in the Eastern Part of the DRC is false, misleading, inappropriate, and baseless. Contrary to the report, Botswana continues to actively engage at all levels within SADC for the pacific resolution of the DRC situation.

   MDJS-STAFF MOVEMENT

The Ministry of Defence Justice and Security participated for the first time as one unit as a result of collaboration and endevouring the to achieve the unity of purpose the ministry saw its self in top 3 of governmrnt departments.