A/HRC/38/8 46. Togo congratulated Botswana for its commitment to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals through the Vision 2036 agenda, the aim of which was to ensure the prosperity of all citizens. 47. Tunisia appreciated the participatory approach adopted in drafting the national report, and welcomed the efforts to disseminate information on human rights by integrating the issue into primary and secondary education curricula and training programmes for civil servants. 48. Turkey praised the poverty eradication programmes of Botswana. It indicated that certain shortcomings remained with regard to ensuring gender equality and the protection of children’s rights and that Botswana should increase efforts to further improve the situation in that regard. 49. Ukraine noted the active cooperation with civil society, as reflected in the national report and encouraged Botswana to continue with that process, as it was potentially beneficial to all in overcoming existing challenges. 50. The United Kingdom welcomed steps to domesticate the Rome Statute and to ratify the Southern African Development Community Protocol on Gender and Development. It encouraged Botswana to protect victims of trafficking and to apply stringent penalties for perpetrators. 51. The United States commended Botswana for the court rulings affirming the rights of transgender persons, urged it to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons from discrimination and expressed concern at restrictions on freedom of expression. 52. Uruguay applauded the initiative of Botswana on combating HIV/AIDS and the adoption of the national gender and development policy. It expressed the hope that Botswana would domesticate the provisions of the international human rights instruments that it had already ratified. 53. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela praised steps to approve the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, to combat poverty and HIV/AIDS, to develop remote areas and to improve education. It noted that the international community should provide Botswana with support and encouraged the State to pursue its efforts in those fields. 54. Zambia applauded Botswana for being an example of good governance in Africa and for the establishment of institutions to ensure transparency. It noted that governance needed to be inclusive and to enable wide participation. 55. Zimbabwe praised the steps to adopt the Vision 2036 agenda, to implement poverty eradication initiatives, including the Youth Empowerment Scheme, to facilitate access to tertiary education and to mainstream human rights education into the school curriculum. 56. Afghanistan commended the achievements of Botswana since the previous review and its initiatives to eradicate poverty focused on the rural population, women and youth. 57. Algeria noted with appreciation progress in implementing policies on nation building, development and poverty reduction, including acknowledgement of the right of local people to manage and use natural resources. 58. Angola welcomed the progress in poverty eradication through the poverty eradication programme, urging Botswana to continue its efforts. It noted that the Vision 2036 agenda, the Youth Development Fund and the Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme were important for inclusive development. 59. Argentina congratulated Botswana on its poverty eradication initiatives focused on the economic empowerment of the poorest people. 60. Armenia praised efforts to establish a human rights unit and to implement the National Policy on Gender and Development, and encouraged Botswana to pursue its efforts in that regard. Armenia urged Botswana to establish a moratorium on the death penalty and to enshrine the right to education in the Constitution. 6

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