INTRODUCTION
1. Pursuant to article 62 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR), Botswana is pleased to submit her 4th and 5th Combined Periodic report to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. This report covers the period from 2018 to 2023.
2. Subsequent to the consideration of Botswana’s 2nd and 3rd report in November 2018 in Banjul The Gambia, the Commission issued recommendations and concluding observations. This report therefore presents the country’s responses and progress updates on the issues, recommendations and observations made by the Commission.
METHODOLOGY AND CONSULTATION PROCESS
3. The compilation of this periodic report was coordinated by the Ministry of Justice. The concluding observations were circulated to the Government Ministries whose issues are covered in this report. Following receipt of responses, a draft report was compiled.
4. Consultative drafting meetings were convened from the 20th to the 22nd of September 2022 and from the 13th to 17th February 2023. The Drafting Committee comprised of representatives from the Ministry for State President, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defence and Security (Botswana Defence Force, Botswana Police Service and Botswana Prisons and Rehabilitation), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, the National AIDS and Health Promotion Agency, Attorney General’s Chambers and Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority.
5. At all the drafting meetings stated above, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) were represented by members of the Botswana Council of Non- Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO) and the Non-Governmental Organisations Council (NGO Council). This enabled dialogue between Government and CSOs on issues covered in this report.
