Written by Victor Baatweng

Concerns over the lack of respect for human rights particularly of sex workers and people living with HIV and AIDS as well as homosexuals took centre stage during a recent one-day awareness campaign on Human Rights and HIV /AIDS. 

The event was organised by the Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and AIDS (BONELA) and the Francistown District Multisectoral AIDS Committee (DMSAC) in Francistown. 

Speaking at the event, BONELA director Uyapo Ndadi said, “As a nation we have done well in adopting a public health approach to the exclusion of human rights. Human rights and public health approaches should be mutually reinforcing if long lasting and sustainable successes are to be achieved.” 

Ndadi pointed out that some of the existing laws are fuelling the HIV/AIDS epidemic, adding that, “there has to be a realisation that the violation of sex workers’ human rights is a massive obstacle to the nation’s HIV/AIDS intervention strategies”. The youthful director said as such the state is bound to combat the prejudices, stereotypes and inconsistencies inherent in the law enforcement policies and practices in the country. 

Making a presentation on legal and community perspective  about human rights and HIV/AIDS , Tati Town Customary Court president Margaret Ludo Mosojane said human rights are inherent to all human beings despite their nationality, sex, colour or religion. Mosojane said Homosexuality exists in Botswana though the society is still in denial. “Homosexuality has always been there and our communities need sensitisation on emerging trends.” 

She said it is unfortunate that stakeholders like the Botswana Police operate within a frame- work that criminalises homosexual relationships ,adding that the “individuals trapped in those relationships know that they have the right to protection with the law”. Mosojane said it is high time that cultural practices that violate individual human rights give way to human rights. 

For his part, Francistown City Mayor Shadreck Nyeku said it has been globally realised that, “Our public health goals are unattainable without human rights”. Nyeku said the concept of human rights itself is not foreign to Batswana as they have always aspired to the value of ‘Botho’ which dictates that human beings’ existence is inextricably interlinked with that of the community. 

The Francistown District AIDS coordinator Mrs O.G. Mathumo told the attendees that human rights are linked with the spread and impact of HIV/AIDS. “Lack of respect for human rights fuels the spread and exacerbates the impact of the disease,” she said.

 Local youth group, Ghetto artists and Eureka provided entertainment during the day.