Botswana
Executive Summary
Botswana is a constitutional, multiparty, republican democracy. Its constitution provides for the indirect election of a president and the popular election of a National Assembly. In October 2014 the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) won the majority of parliamentary seats in an election deemed generally free and fair. President Ian Khama retained his position. The BDP has held the presidency and a majority of National Assembly seats since independence in 1966.
Civilian authorities maintained effective control over the security forces.
The most significant human rights issues included excessive use of force and abuse by security personnel; lengthy judicial delays; government attempts to limit freedoms of the press and assembly; mistreatment of asylum seekers and refugees; corruption; sexual and gender-based violence against women and children; economic and political marginalization of the Basarwa (San) people; and government curtailments of the right to strike.
The government took steps to prosecute officials who committed abuses. Impunity was generally not a problem.