02/05/13
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’.
Update Press Statement about the Comprehensive Human Rights Strategy and National Action Plan
The process to develop the strategy and national action plan began on 23 and 24 April 2013 with the hosting of a workshop by the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security in collaboration with DITSHWANELO – The Botswana Centre for Human Rights. It was arranged by the Joint Task Force which comprises both government and civil society and is chaired by the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security. The Workshop was officially opened on 23 April 2013, by Honourable Dikgakgamatso Ndelu Seretse, Minister of Defence, Justice and Security. In his opening address the Minister reiterated the commitment of the Government of Botswana to the UPR process and the protection and promotion of human rights in the country. He also encouraged meaningful and open dialogue.
Participants included officials from the Ministries of Defence, Justice and Security; Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Lands and Housing; Labour and Home Affairs; the Attorney General’s Chambers; the Office of the Ombudsman; the Land Tribunal, the Chobe Council; Gantsi Land Board; and UNICEF. Civil Society participants were from BOCONGO; The Kuru Family of Organisations; Rainbow Identity, YOHO; Khwaedom Council; Reteng; the Botswana Coalition on Education for All and DITSHWANELO.
The Workshop discussed the deferred UPR recommendations and made recommendations about these for the June 2013 process. It was agreed that the entire strategy and national action plan process will be a Botswana-driven, people-centred, consultative, participatory and ‘bottom-up’ one, led by the priorities of Batswana. It is to be linked to the National Development Plan and Vision 2016.
The Workshop was facilitated by Adrien Zoller of Geneva for Human Rights, who has extensive experience in working with governments and civil society in different regions of the world, in the preparation of strategies and national human rights action plans. Funders of the Workshop were the Government of Botswana, UNDP, OSISA, The British High Commission, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Geneva for Human Rights and DITSHWANELO – The Botswana Centre for Human Rights.
S.Tabudi
FOR/PERMANENT SECRETARY