Human rights in Botswana

Botswana

Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...

are protected under the constitution

Constitution of Botswana

The present Constitution of Botswana commenced on September 30, 1966.-Background:Before colonial rule was established in Botswana, a traditional constitution - a body of laws known as molao - was used by tribal chiefs, or diKgosi, of the BaTswana people. During the early years of the Bechuanaland...

. The 2009 Human Rights Report by the United States Department of State

United States Department of State

The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...

 noted that in general the government of Botswana has respected the rights of its citizens.

Constitution

The constitution of Botswana addresses fundamental human rights principles such as freedom of speech

Freedom of speech

Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...

, Freedom of assembly

Freedom of assembly

Freedom of assembly, sometimes used interchangeably with the freedom of association, is the individual right to come together and collectively express, promote, pursue and defend common interests...

and the right to life.

Freedom of speech and press

The constitution addresses the notion of freedom of speech and this is generally respected by the government.

Death penalty

The High Court in Johannesburg has slammed Botswana as a "pariah state not synchronised with the majority of African countries that have either abandoned or are refusing to implement the death penalty" Thirty-two people were hanged in Botswana between independence in 1996 and 1998 and a further six were executed between 2001 and 2006.

External links

• Amnesty International News and Publications: Botswana