26 Mar 2023

Minister of Justice, Mr Machana Shamukuni has told Parliament that the ministry has prioritised a holistic review of the justice system.

Responding to a question recently, Mr Shamukuni explained that the review aimed to improve capacities across the criminal justice sector to better plan for delivery, identify and solve implementation challenges as well as account for delivery of high quality, timely, fair and accessible criminal justice services.

Consequently, he said a policy research and data management unit had been established to facilitate evidence based decision making through surveys, assessments and evaluations.

He added that to address the criminal justice review, a qualitative situational analysis survey on child friendly justice was initiated in 2020 was ongoing.

The purpose of the survey, he said was necessitated by government’s efforts to reform the child friendliness of its juvenile justice in order to uphold and protect children’s rights as stipulated in the Children’s Act as well as in international treaties.

“This policy ensures a justice system that guaranteed respect and effective implementation of all children’s rights at the highest attainable level. Child friendly justice entails acceptable justice within the confines of the law, age appropriateness, diligent, speedy and focused services on the needs and rights of the child,” he added.

Again, he said the study was fully sponsored by government with technical assistance from University of Botswana and Stepping Stones International.

Further, he said gender mainstreaming within the justice system was a policy dialogue between Botswana and Europe on gender mainstreaming within the justice system which was currently ongoing and would be completed in April this year.

“The purpose of the dialogue is to create a system that recognises and enforces human rights across gender considerations with a deliberate move towards uplifting the vulnerable members of the society. 

Funding of this programme was from both government and the EU,” he said.

Parliament also heard that the criminal justice sector review had just commenced after engaging a consultant and was funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

He explained that programme was aimed at conducting baseline study and review of the criminal justice sector in Botswana which would include key recommendations for reform to ensure a fair, efficient and effective criminal justice sector and success to justice for all.

“The underlying objective of these reforms is to remove the bottlenecks and impediments to fair, accessible affordable and timely justice and ensure that the justice sector supports and uphold democratic governance and the rule of law,” he added.

MP for Okavango, Mr Kenny Kapinga had asked the minister to update Parliament on any research conducted by the ministry or departments, or any commissioned researcher into criminal justice issues such as crime and victimisation survey, crime prevention initiatives, penal policy.

He further asked the minister to confirm whether he had any budgetary resources dedicated to criminal justice research and if so, state the areas of interest to be examined. Ends