Name: The World Organisation Against Torture
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At a glance

In response to the Covid-19 health crisis, the Botswana government has extended the April 2020 Emergency Powers Act (EPA) twice. It restricts the right to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. This emergency law prohibits the right to strike and punishes with up to five years in prison the publication of information "intent to mislead" the public about Covid-19. The spokesman of the opposition, Judge Motlhabane, journalists Letsogile Barupi and Oratile Dikologang were arrested, detained and charged in April 2020 based on these EPA regulations.

The right to asylum is still largely violated in the country while living conditions and security in refugee camps are poor.

The country is also one of a minority of countries in southern Africa that continue to apply the death penalty, including the use of mandatory death sentences that do not meet the requirement under international law to allow for individualised consideration of the circumstances surrounding a particular person for certain offences. People sentenced to death are left in a situation where they have no way of knowing whether their execution is imminent.

Botswana

At a glance

Related resources

OMCT E-Bulletin- 74th session of the Committee against Torture

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