Thread by @UN_HRC

🔵 #UPR43 l TODAY @UNGeneva

🇧🇼 #Botswana’s human rights record will be examined by the @UN 🇺🇳 Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review for the fourth time.

📅 Wednesday 3 May 2023
⏲️ 9:00 – 12:30 (GMT+2)
📺 bit.ly/upr43botswana
📰 tinyurl.com/UPR43Botswana

🔵#UPR43 l LIVE at @UNGeneva.

WATCH 🇧🇼#Botswana’s Universal Periodic Review at the @UN🇺🇳 Human Rights Council⤵️
media.un.org/en/asset/k1u/k…

At #UPR41, Machana Ronald Shamukuni, Minister of Justice, said #Botswana
-established a Ministry of Justice in 2022
-included the investigation of human rights violations in the Ombudsman's mandate
-will operationalize the Ombudsman Office as a National Human Rights Institution

At #UPR41, Machana Ronald Shamukuni, Minister of Justice, said #Botswana is amending
-Section 164 of its Penal Code to comply with the Court of Appeal decision which held that criminalizing same-sex sexual conduct is unconstitutional
-its Anti-Human Trafficking Act

At #UPR41, Machana Ronald Shamukuni, Minister of Justice, said Botswana
-ratified the 🌐Convention on the Rights of Persons w/ Disabilities
-revised its Disability Policy to shift away from viewing persons w/ disabilities from a charity-model perspective to a right-based approach

At #UPR41, Machana Ronald Shamukuni, Minister of Justice, said #Botswana acceded to the Conventions on
-Protection of Children+Cooperation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoption
-Intl Recovery of Child Support+other Forms of Family Maintenance
-Civil Aspects of Intl Child Abduction

At #UPR41, Machana Ronald Shamukuni, Minister of Justice, said #Botswana
-appointed a Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Review of the Constitution
-developed the country’s first Draft Comprehensive Human Rights Strategy & National Action Plan

At #UPR41, Machana Ronald Shamukuni, Minister of Justice, said #Botswana
-is drafting a Disability Bill to domesticate the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
-passed a Media Practitioners Association Bill to promote & protect #pressfreedom & independence

At #UPR41, Machana Ronald Shamukuni, Minister of Justice, said Botswana
-is providing health services to remote area communities through 1500 mobile clinics
-has reduced mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS
-adopted a National Social Protection Framework for vulnerable people

At #UPR41, Machana Ronald Shamukuni, Minister of Justice, said #Botswana
-started implementing land allocation strategies such as youth affirmative programmes
-enacted the National Arts Council of Botswana Act for regulation & promotion of the cultural & creative industries

At #UPR43, States commended #Botswana for its
-commitment to decriminalize same-sex relations
-ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
-establishment of a Ministry of Justice
-National strategy to promote human rights

At #UPR43, States commended #Botswana for
-including the investigation of human rights violations in the Ombudsman's mandate
-ratifying the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction
-its regular engagement with civil society organizations

At #UPR43, States commended #Botswana on its efforts to
-eradicate poverty, especially in rural areas
-reduce HIV/AIDS transmission
-combat human trafficking & sexual violence
-improve health & education services for vulnerable groups: women, children & persons with disabilities

At #UPR43, States recommended that #Botswana ratifies the Conventions on
-Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance
-Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers+Members of Their Families
-Reduction of Statelessness
-Prevention+Punishment of the Crime of Genocide

At #UPR43, States recommended that #Botswana
-abolishes the death penalty
-ratifies the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture+establishes a prevention mechanism
-ensures freedoms of media, expression, assembly & association
-ensures the independence of the Ombudsman

At #UPR43, States recommended that #Botswana
-protects women's & girls' rights
-combats child marriage
-eliminates gender-based violence+inequalities
-criminalizes marital rape
-provides support to survivors of gender-based violence
-combats discrimination against LGBTIQ+ persons

At #UPR43, States recommended that #Botswana
-ratifies the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights
-increases women's participation in political & economic life
-guarantees vulnerable groups' access to justice
-Protects the human rights of indigenous peoples

At #UPR43, States recommended that #Botswana pursues its efforts to
-eradicate poverty
-empower youth
-guarantee the rights of persons with disabilities
-combat human trafficking
-reduce maternal deaths
-increase access to quality education for all & to sexual+reproductive health

The Universal Periodic Review of #Botswana🇧🇼 has now concluded.

📝105 States spoke at the meeting.

📺Watch the review here ➡️bit.ly/upr43botswana

The #UPR43 Working Group is set to adopt the report on Friday, 5 May 2023 at 15:30 (GMT+2).