CONCLUSION As a State party to the African Charter, Botswana has made a lot of effort to comply with its obligations. The country has embarked on a transformation strategy by focusing on the diversification of its economy, under which it has increased its savings, built infrastructures and improved on its investment in education and health. For example, the relocation of diamond sale and sorting activities from London to Gaborone in 2013 has deepened the sector’s local linkages and generated economic multipliers. The Diamond Hub employed 3,500 people56 in 2014. CHALLENGES Despite all these notable achievements, Botswana faces challenges, which include inequality, social vulnerability, extreme poverty in rural areas, a high HIV and AIDS prevalence rate and desertification. The Government has already initiated new policies to tackle the wealth gap and to avoid creating a social time bomb, especially among young people. The Government also understands that efforts need to be made, as far as human rights are concerned, in signing and acceding to a number of important African instruments, such as the Protocol to the African Charter on Rights of Women, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, the Convention for the Protection and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons in African, the African Charter on Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration, the African Charter on Values of Decentralization, Local Governance and Local Development. This will give more visibility to the work already done in the country to protect human life and dignity. Despite the aforementioned successes, the country continues to face challenges such as high unemployment (20% in 2013), income inequality and a relatively undiversified economy. The country’s heavy reliance on diamond exports coupled with drops in revenue from non-mineral sectors, are expected to adversely impact on the level of the real GDP. With 76% of total merchandize exports and 33% of total central revenues, the mining sector provides the country with the largest share of its export earnings and fiscal revenues. Recognising this economic outlook, Botswana continues to carry out the requisite reforms which include introducing 56 See Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources report in 2014. 78 | P a g e

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