One of the key focus areas for the UNDP Governance Programme in Botswana is human rights, including the rights of persons with disabilities.

Botswana context

Current estimates are that approximately 4.5% of Botswana’s population is living with a disability. Research shows that some of the major challenges for people with disability include social and economic exclusion, higher levels of poverty and restricted access to information, transportation and public spaces. Early identification and supports for people with disabilities and inclusive education are additional challenges.

Botswana is a signatory to five of the nine core international human rights treaties as well as key regional human rights instruments. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (“CRPD”) was adopted by the United Nations in 2006 and entered into force in 2008. Since then, 177 countries have ratified the CRPD, however Botswana has not.  

In 2018, Botswana indicated to the Human Rights Council through the Universal Periodic Review process that it would consider acceding to the CRPD.  Later the same year, H.E the President of the Republic of Botswana indicated in his annual State of the Nation Address that Botswana is in the process of ratifying the CRPD.

In 2019, the National Assembly also passed a resolution, which is not binding on the executive, that Botswana should accede to the CRPD.

After considering the issue, Cabinet decided that certain measures towards implementation of the CRPD should be in place prior to Botswana’s accession to the CRPD, specifically a national disability policy, strategy and law.

Objectives

The objective of the first phase of the Disability Project (2018 – 2019) is to provide technical support to the Government of Botswana (Coordination Office for Persons with Disabilities) to develop a national disability strategy policy and law and to promote the CRPD.

In furtherance of this goal, UNDP Botswana has therefore supported the Government of Botswana to develop a National Disability Policy, National Disability Strategy and Implementation Plan and a draft law to domesticate the CRPD into the laws of Botswana.  These elements of the National Disability Framework have been developed in a highly consultative and inclusive way, including consultations with people with disabilities, Disabled Persons Organisations, Civil Society Organisations, academia, government ministries and parastatals at the national, district and village levels.  

UNDP has supported the translation and publication of an easy version of the CRPD into Setswana.

In the first phase of the Disability Project, UNDP is also supporting the integration of world best practice regarding disability statistics into the national census (2021) and increasing integration of disability into Botswana’s National Development Plan 11 (2017 – 2023).

The objective of the second phase of the Disability Project (2020 – 2021) is to support the Government of Botswana to coordinate the implementation of the National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan and to enhance the capacity of people with disability and Disabled Persons Organisations to advocate for implementation of the CRPD and the National Disability Framework.

Overview

Status: Active

Project Start Date: January 2018

Estimated End Date: December 2021

Partners:

Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration

Geographic Coverage:

Botswana

Focus Area:

Human Rights - Disability

Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities

Goal 5 - Gender Equality

Project Number:

00104658