transfers50.” Therefore, measures should be taken “to encourage and strengthen the family unit”. The Domestic Violence Act of 2008 offers protection to victims of domestic violence thereby deterring individuals from harming their families. b. The Duty to Protect Rights of Women and Eliminate Discrimination The Married Persons Property Act, 2014 makes provision for persons married under customary law to opt for their property to be administered under civil law. The new dispensation allows persons getting married under customary law to opt either in or out of community of property. Furthermore, the new law allows spouses whose joint property is administered under civil law to be able to approach the High Court to change their marital proprietary regime where their initial property regime ceases to be beneficial to them. These new developments ensure equal rights for married persons whether such marriages were contracted under civil law or customary law. c. The Duty to Protect Rights of Children and Eliminate Discrimination The Children’s Act of 2009 has ensured that parents have common responsibilities towards their children. In particular, Section 27 on parental duties provides that the primary duty to care for and maintain a child shall rest upon the biological parents of the Child. e. State Policy towards the Aged and People living with Disabilities The State has put special measures for the protection of the aged and the disabled in order to satisfy their physical and moral needs. According to the 2011 Population and Housing Census, about 2.9% of Botswana population (59.103 persons) live with disabilities. Out of this number, 28.721 are visually impaired, 11.981 are hearing impaired and 172 with physical impairment. Half of that population is composed of children and the most common disabilities within that group are physical (22.7%), mental (22.1%) and hearing impairment (19.8%). The National Policy for People Living with Disabilities is currently being reviewed and Government has taken the liberty to align the policy to the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 50 See National Strategic Vision, A long term Vision for Botswana, page 48 66 | P a g e