Sex workers exploited in Botswana-UN

No Image

The government of Botswana is being pressured into protecting the rights of sex workers by the UN Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.

Botswana must report to the committee in February 2014 over the exploitation of prostitutes in the country and the lack of information about the extent of human trafficking in women, and measures taken to address the issue.  In its report to Botswana, which is only being addressed this week by the Department of Gender through a consultative workshop held at Boipuso Hall, the UN committee requests government to carry out a study in order to assess the prevalence of trafficking in women and girls in the country, and to include in its next periodic report a comprehensive assessment of the extent of trafficking and its root causes, including legislation on trafficking.

The UN committee also requests Botswana to include in its next report sex-disaggregated data and information on the exploitation of prostitutes. The UN is also  putting pressure on Botswana government to put in place support programme geared at removing women from prostitution by providing means of support such as education and economic alternatives.

Editor's Comment
Human rights are sacred

It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up