'Botswana's human rights record questionable'

In an article in the UB Journal, Bonolo Ramadi Dinokopila writes that Botswana's good human rights record has become questionable.  Titled, Bringing the Paris Principles home: Towards the establishment of a National Human Rights Commission in Botswana, the article highlights, among areas of concern, the death penalty and lack of choice in termination of pregnancy. "Despite being rated a free country by Freedom House, Botswana remains one of the few death penalty retentionist countries and continues to outlaw termination of pregnancy by choice," argues Dinokopila.

Dinokopila also notes that there exists, growing concerns over issues pertaining to racial discrimination, xenophobia and other related intolerances.  "Women, children, refugees and asylum seekers, indigenous groups, members of the gay and lesbian community as well as prisoners continue to be marginalised in modern day Botswana.