Universal Periodic Review of Botswana – 15th Session
Statement by Australia
23 January 2013
Australia commends Botswana’s engagement with the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process and its progress in promoting and protecting human rights since its last review in 2008.
We acknowledge the enactment and promotion of the Domestic Violence Act of 2008 and we recommend that Botswana continue to take steps towards eliminating gender-based violence, including through strengthening domestic laws and policies to protect women. We also recommend that Botswana ratify the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and its Optional Protocol.
Australia recommends that Botswana take steps to implement comprehensive anti-discrimination laws, particularly to eliminate discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Australia also recommends that Botswana expedite efforts to establish a national human rights institution and a national human rights strategy. Such an institution and strategy would help ensure compliance with human rights instruments to which Botswana is a party, and support Botswana’s international human rights reporting obligations.
Australia recommends Botswana establish a moratorium on executions as a first step towards complete abolition of the death penalty and accession to the Second Optional Protocol of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.