07 May 2014

Commonwealth member states need to find better methods to improve on their delivery and promise to ensure the unfettered enjoyment of human rights by all citizens of the Commonwealth and have the rest of the international community benchmark

Giving welcome remarks at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Law Ministers’ Meeting (CLMM) on May 5, the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Dikgakgamatso Seretse said human rights were after all anchored on the principles of universality and inalienability; interdependence and indivisibility, last equality and non-discrimination.

Mr Seretse noted that in a world where religion, social and economic development as well as political ideologies were being redefined, the responsibility and responsiveness of governments to the needs of their citizens, was measured against their ability to assure obligations and duties under international law to respect, protect and deliver on human rights.

The minister said thus why at the last CLMM in Sydney, Australia, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding of Cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and adopted the revised Harare Scheme which provided mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.

He however said for this assignment to be achieved, it was pertinent to establish and build institutions that are able to guard and protect the enjoyment of human rights.

The minister noted that in many countries including Botswana, they have established institutions such as the Ombudsman, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions and the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime among others.

He told over 200 delegates that these institutions are designed to afford the ordinary citizens access to justice and ensure that the rule of law prevails.

Nevertheless, he said these institutions can only make a difference if governments can provide an enabling environment through the protection of their independence and providing the necessary capacity to those who are given the heavy responsibility of driving their objectives.

Furthermore, Mr Seretse said Botswana was more determined to contribute to the promotion of the respect for human rights at home and abroad.

Nonetheless, he observed that in doing so Botswana was conscious of the need for international cooperation in the promotion of human rights and it was for this reason that Botswana is a state party to a number of United Nations and the African Union human rights instruments.

These included the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, among others.

He said the ordinary citizens of their countries, some of whom live in dire humanitarian conditions and could hardly afford a decent meal a day, let alone decent shelter, look up to them to come up with practical solutions that would ensure that they too were counted among those who would be uplifted when they count their achievements as ascribed in the Millennium Development Goals declaration. .

The delegates were treated to traditional dance music by Mafitlhakgosi Traditional Dance Group. Ends