Human Rights Council: 43rd Session of the Universal Periodic Review, Botswana

Thank you Mr Vice-President,

New Zealand warmly welcomes the delegation from Botswana and commends Botswana’s committed participation to the UPR process. We congratulate Botswana on its recent ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and on steps taken to decriminalise consensual same-sex relations.

New Zealand recommends that Botswana:

1. Continues efforts to abolish the death penalty.
2. Eliminates from legislation all provisions that undermine freedom of the press and independence of the media.
3. Creates enabling legislation and support systems for women candidates to run for office, to encourage greater female political participation.

We wish Botswana all the best for its review.

Thank you, Mr Vice-President.