Ditshwanelo�s message on World Day Against the Death Penalty
Correspondent | Friday October 7, 2016 16:35
The global theme of this year’s world commemoration is ‘terrorism’. The 14th World Day Against the Death Penalty is drawing attention to the application of the death penalty for terrorism-related offences in order to reduce its use. Reversing progress made by the worldwide movement to abolish the death penalty, some governments have in recent years resorted to the use of the death penalty, following terrorist attacks on their countries, on the grounds of protecting their people. However, execution is itself used as a tool of terror by the terrorists. The World Day against the Death Penalty seeks to stop the cycle of violence. Execution is not the solution to the War on Terrorism which requires a far more complex and far reaching response.
During Botswana’s 2013 Second Cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR) before the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Government of Botswana accepted the recommendation made by Uruguay for it to ‘hold a public debate on the death penalty, in which all aspects of the issue should be highlighted in a holistic manner. In its February 2016 Mid-Term Review Report, the Government of Botswana stated that it ‘is now in the process of commissioning a study on the issue, which will inform the debate it wants to open on the moratorium on death penalty in Botswana’. In 2013, Botswana also accepted the recommendation from Uruguay that it ‘provide information to concerned families, so that they can know in advance the date of execution of their relatives’. Contrary to this commitment, according to the legal representatives of Patrick Gabaakanye, who was executed for murder on May 25 2016, his family members were not informed, accordingly.
The death penalty undermines the constitutional right to life, human dignity and Botho. It does not deter crime more than any other punishment. In the United States of America, for example, the murder rate in States without the death penalty has remained consistently lower than the murder rate in States with the death penalty. The use of a moratorium (suspending) of the death penalty is a useful first step to enable effective public consultation on whether or not Botswana should retain the death penalty.. DITSHWANELO commends His Excellency Lt. General Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, for his recent pardoning of 580 prisoners. We urge him to further consider introducing a moratorium, during this, our 50th Anniversary of Independence.
To mark World Day against the Death Penalty 2016, DITSHWANELO will host a Human Rights Workshop for Journalists on October 10 2016, to raise awareness about the death penalty. The Workshop is funded by the Delegation of the European Union.
DITSHWANELO has been working for the abolition of the death penalty in Botswana since 1995. We reiterate that the use of the death penalty is retributive and not restorative or healing. The death penalty is seen to contribute to a culture of violence. This should not be encouraged in a democratic society. Effective responses to crime should include both punishment of the offender and the healing of the families of both the victim and the offender. This comprehensive approach will ultimately contribute to the healing of our community, based on our Setswana value of botho.