BOTSWANA. AU CALLS FOR END TO THE DEATH PENALTY

March 2, 2005: the African Commission on Human and People's Rights (ACHPR) called on Botswana to end its enforcement of "inhuman and degrading" corporal and capital punishment.
Bahame Nyanduga, who heads ACHPR, was in Botswana, where he said the country had yet to report to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the mechanisms it has put in place to promote and protect individual rights. The charter was established by the then Organisation of African Unity in 1986.
"We have been trying to advise the Botswana government to look into the possibility of introducing other methods that are humane and less degrading, like community service," Nyanduga said.
By not making submissions, Botswana had failed to give the commission a better understanding of the problems it was encountering in trying to turn the provisions of the charter into reality, he commented. Countries that had ratified the charter were required to submit a report every two years on measures they had taken to implement ACHPR's provisions.
"Most African Union (AU) member states misconstrue the state reporting system as a forum meant to embarrass them," Nyanduga noted.
Botswana also owed reports to the UN conventions on the elimination of torture, as well as on racial discrimination, and civil and political rights.
Nyanduga pointed out that Botswana had ratified conventions which contravened the country's laws, as they banned the death penalty and corporal punishment.
The British government joined the ACHPR in criticising Botswana. David Merry, the British High Commissioner to Botswana, said his country and the European Union had been trying to persuade the government to end corporal punishment and the death penalty. However, Botswana has defended its position on both issues, saying it was the will of its citizens. (Sources: IRIN, 02/03/2005)