Ditshwanelo

DITSHWANELO – The Botswana Centre for Human Rights joins the rest of the world in commemorating International Human Rights Day on 10 December 2010. This day marks the anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. All member states, under the United Nations Charter, including Botswana, have promised to act to promote universal respect for and observance of human rights. The theme for this year is ‘Human Rights Defenders who act to end discrimination’.

In support of this theme, celebrations throughout the world on Human Rights Day 2010 will focus on the achievements of Human Rights Defenders as well as the primary responsibilities of Governments. Governments are expected to put in place an enabling environment in which Human Rights Defenders can work. They are also expected to protect the role of human rights defenders and inspire a new generation of Human Rights Defenders who will speak up and take action to end discrimination in all of its forms whenever and wherever it exists.

The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon, in his message on Human Rights Day 2010 states that “Laws to protect and promote human rights are indispensable. But quite often, progress comes down to people… courageous women and men… striving to protect their own rights and the rights of others… determined to make rights real in people’s lives. It is these human rights defenders to whom we dedicate this year’s observance of Human Rights Day…This Human Rights Day is an occasion to salute the courage and achievements of Human Rights Defenders everywhere – and to pledge to do more to safeguard their work.”

Within Botswana, there is no specific law to safeguard Human Rights Defenders and there is no State-funded Human Rights Commission to promote, protect and fulfill the human rights of Batswana. The Office of the Ombudsman protects the public from violations of their rights by Government Departments and State-funded institutions. The defence of human rights is quite often led by civil society organisations which are at present struggling for funds. There is no comprehensive framework for supporting the work of human rights defenders in civil society organisations. Human Rights organisations continue to work in an environment where resources are very scarce. They rely on the good will of the international donor community to pay for their operational costs, such as water, electricity and rent. Unfortunately, the work of Human Rights Defenders in Botswana is often not acknowledged by the State.

Botswana, as a member of the international community, has made commitments to adhere to international and regional standards of human rights. However, we have a poor record of turning these international commitments into national laws (domestication) and policies which positively change the lives of the marginalised. Human Rights Defenders continue to monitor State adherence to these commitments.

DITSHWANELO was established in 1993 and is the first and only broad-based Human Rights advocacy organisation in Botswana. As a human rights organisation, DITSHWANELO acts to defend the human rights of marginalised and vulnerable groups in Botswana such as:

the poor who have no access to legal representation. They have constrained access to information, and are not active participants in their development processes. Over the past 4 years, DITSHWANELO has provided free legal advice and mediation services to over 3,500 people;
children , who are often voiceless in our society. DITSHWANELO has reached over 2000 children in primary and secondary schools through its children’s rights and responsibilities awareness activities;

indigenous peoples of Botswana – The Basarwa/San peoples through provision of water, health care, legal advice and mediation services;

people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS;
gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and intersex people and
refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants.

DITSHWANELO remains committed to ensuring that the dignity of all persons is recognised, respected and protected. This is reflected in its work in Botswana and the region. To ensure DITSHWANELO’s survival in the current difficult economic climate, DITSHWANELO has launched a public appeal for donations and looks forward to broad- based support to continue its work in defence of human rights.

For more information, please contact DITSHWANELO – The Botswana Centre for Human Rights. Tel:00267 3906998, Fax:00267 3907778, Email: admin.ditshwanelo@info.bw, Website: www.ditshwanelo.org.bw.