Botswana ratified six ( 6) out of nine ( 9) United Nations Human Rights Treaties.

These are: Covenant on Civil & Political Rights; Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women; Convention on the Rights of the Child; Convention Against Torture; Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.

One of the country’s obligations under these Treaties is that it should submit reports detailing progress in implementing the rights covered in those Treaties.

Presenting his ministry’s budget before the Parliament Committee of Supply Justice Minister Machana Ronald Shamukuni noted that Botswana has as at December 2022, been able to bring to date its international reporting obligations with various human rights bodies.

Since the establishment of the Human Rights Unit in 2019, the country has improved its human rights reporting status.

This was stated during the presentation of Botswana’s reports on the Convention Against Torture ( July 2022) and on the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ( November 2022).

According to these reports, the Unit has been able to coordinate Government Ministries and Civil Society to work together in issues of Human Rights ( including human rights reports) through the establishment of the National Human Rights Coordinating Committee, which is a forum for meaningful engagement between Government and Non- Governmental Organisations.