Botswana

Botswana

Right	Section	Contents
Freedom of Association	History	Chapter 2 of Botswana’s Constitution ( 1966) guarantees “freedom of conscience, of expression and of assembly and association.”
Freedom of Expression	History	In the Constitution of Botswana originally enacted in 1966 following their independence from Britain freedom of expression is listed as a fundamental right in chapter two. Behind only the right to life, liberty and security. “Botswana 1966 (Rev. 2016) Constitution.” Constitute. Accessed September 14, 2022. https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Botswana_2016?lang=en.
Freedom of Religion	History	Botswana’s Constitution of 1966 is the first document in the country’s independent history to protect freedom of conscience. Article 3(b) outlines this right. Article 11 establishes religious freedom, equality, and prohibits religious discrimination. “Botswana 1966 (rev. 2016).” Constitute. Accessed July 20, 2023. https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Botswana_2016
Freedom of the Press	History	Chapter II, Section 12, subsection 2 of the 1966 Botswana Constitution states that “Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held to be inconsistent with or in contravention of this section to the extent that the law in question makes provision…regulating the technical administration or the technical operation of telephony, telegraphy, posts, wireless, broadcasting or television” (Constitute Project, “Botswana's Constitution of 1966 with Amendments through 2005” ).
Privacy Rights	History	The 1966 constitution of Botswana includes privacy protections of the home in Article 3(c) and Article 9. Article 12, in protecting freedom of expression, also protects correspondence (Constitute Project, “Botswana 1966 rev. 2016” ). https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Botswana_ 2016? lang=en
Voting Rights and Suffrage	History	Botswana has a unicameral, 65-seat National Assembly. Voters directly elect 57 members to five-year terms, while 6 members are nominated by the president and approved by the National Assembly (Freedom House, “Botswana”).