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Bushman woman, CKGR, Botswana 2004
© Stephen Corry/Survival |
on Indigenous Peoples had
already expressed concern about the Botswana government's treatment of the Gana
and Gwi earlier this year. This new report comes at the same as criticism of the
evictions by the A report released by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of
Racial Discrimination condemns Botswana's treatment of the 'Bushmen' as racist .
The report, released in August 2002, criticises both Botswana's eviction of the
Gana and Gwi Bushmen from their ancestral land in the Central Kalahari Game
Reserve, and government officials' prejudice towards all Bushman tribes (who are
also known in Botswana as Basarwa or San). The UN Special RapporteurUS ambassador to Botswana,
and European parliamentarians.
Below are extracts from the report:
The Committee:
- 'is concerned by the discriminatory character of certain domestic laws, such
as the Chieftainship Act and the Tribal Territories Act, which only recognise
the Tswana-speaking tribes. Other tribes, especially the Basarwa/San peoples,
are reported to suffer from cultural, social, economic and political exclusion,
do not enjoy group rights to land, and do not participate in the House of
Chiefs.' (point 10)
- 'is concerned at expressions of prejudice against the Basarwa/San people,
including by public officials.' (point 11)
- 'expresses concern at the ongoing dispossession of Basarwa/San people from
their land, and about reports stating that their resettlement outside the
Central Kalahari Game Reserve does not respect their political, economic, social
and cultural rights. The Committee draws the attention of the State party to its
General Recommendation XXIII on Indigenous Peoples, and recommends that no
decisions directly relating to the rights and interests of members of indigenous
peoples be taken without their informed consent.' (point 13)
- 'notes that the cultural and linguistic rights of the Basarwa/San are not
fully respected, especially in educational curricula and in terms of access to
the media.' (point 14)
From 'Concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of
Racial Discrimination: Botswana', by United Nations Committee on Elimination
of Racial Discrimination, 61st session, 23 August 2002.
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