13 Apr 2016

The Judge President of the Industrial Court of Botswana, Judge Tebogo Maruping says leaning is a lifelong process that should not be left unabated at any time.

Speaking during the closing ceremony of the judicial colloquium on promoting the rule of law and equal access to justice, Judge Maruping said Batswana was in a celebratory mood this year as they have achieved what was thought to be impossible in 1966.

He said Botswana has come a long way as a nation and that it called on all to pause and introspect because there were reasons to be proud. He noted the the favourable global indices that the country achieved in democracy, peace, transparency and the rule of law.

Mr Maruping said based on the figures, Botswana was ranked among the top in Africa, and said the achievements were worth celebrating.

However, he said as the country celebrates, society should also acknowledge that the best could have been done in some of the indices based on global standards.

In the judiciary, he said, concern was the achievement of a just, peaceful and inclusive society, promotion of the rule of law and equal access to justice, adding that as judicial officers and lawyers, they need to understand and recognise the inequalities prevailing in society so that they could protect and promote the rights and freedoms  enshrined in the constitution.

“It is only if we do these that we could assure that the universal human rights which are enshrined in the International Human Rights Conventions and our constitution are enjoyed by all,” he said.

He said there were various human rights instruments and national constitutions which recognise that certain groups defined as vulnerable require certain specific protection and that such groups include women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, refugees, internally displaced persons, migrant workers, persons with HIV, people belonging to religious and linguistic minorities, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, trans-gender persons and others.

Judge Maruping said the judicial colloquium has reinforced the need for continued judicial education to ensure that judicial officers and lawyers continue to be relevant as the country moves forward to the next 50 years of development.

On the other hand, he said  at the Industrial Court, they have taken the position that the National Association of Women Judges and Magistrates of Botswana (NAWABO) was a worthwhile effort in advancing the judicial mandate and that they have decided to support the judges and registrars with the limited resources. ENDS