As a State party to the African Charter, Botswana has always articulated the rights
of its citizens with a number of duties, including those enabling youth
participation and engagement in the development of their communities and
promoting their patriotism.
Section 3 of the Constitution provides for the rights and freedoms of the individual
subject to the respect for the rights and freedoms of others, and for the public
interest in the following terms:
“Whereas every person in Botswana is entitled to the rights and freedoms of
individuals, that is to say, the right, whatever his or her race, place of origin,
political opinions, colour, creed or sex but subject to respect for the rights and
freedoms of others and for the public interest.”
Individual Duties:
As far as duties are concerned, the Revised National Youth Policy of 2010 has
highlighted the duties of the youth at the national, community and family levels.
These include53:
a. The obligation to embrace positive value systems of respect for authority and
BOTHO towards parents, extended family and the community as enshrined in
the Constitution and the National Strategic Vision 2016.
b. The responsibility to demonstrate, accommodate and respect the process of open
communication and shared dialogue for parents and child relationship building.
c. The responsibility to demonstrate assertiveness and self-worth in line with
positive value systems and attributes of role modeling.
d. The responsibility to promote the socio-economic independence of youth, attach
more value on positive attitudes and self-motivation.
e. The responsibility to cultivate leadership values and deliberate participation in policy development and decision-making.
f. The obligation to protect and account for the country’s physical, financial and
natural resources demonstrating a high level of ownership for the benefit of
themselves and future generations.
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See the Revised National Youth Policy 2010, pages 12 and 13.
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