A/HRC/38/8 20. Botswana held the view that the death penalty was not a human rights violation, or a form of torture, but rather a matter of criminal justice. Botswana retained the sovereign right to independently decide on its own criminal justice system, including the retention of the death penalty. There were robust laws and institutions in place, including an independent judiciary, in order to ensure that there was no arbitrary imposition of the death sentence. Nonetheless, the Government intended to hold public debates on the death penalty and would welcome technical and financial assistance in carrying out that exercise. 21. Botswana had made good progress in the realization of universal access to primary education and was currently focusing on good-quality basic education and lifelong learning. One of the major challenges was providing a learning environment that catered for students with varied potentials, interests, career inclinations and backgrounds and for instruction in mother-tongue languages. 22. In 2016, the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology had been established with a view to transforming Botswana into a knowledge-based economy. 23. To mitigate human-wildlife conflict and to help drive animals such as elephants from community and farming areas, additional material resources, including aircraft and capture equipment, were being procured. 24. Botswana welcomed and took on board the majority of the concluding observations and recommendations formulated by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation following his visit in 2015. In the past, Botswana had accepted all requests for visits by the special procedure mandate holders and remained open to receiving any future requests. The latest requests for visits by the Special Rapporteurs on the right to food and on minority issues had been accepted and the visits would be held on mutually agreed dates. 25. The Botswana Emergency Water Security and Efficiency Project was currently being implemented and would improve water availability and wastewater management in 60 settlements. A review of water-sector policies and legislation was being undertaken. Sanitation capacity was being upgraded and a new national waste-management policy was expected to be adopted. 26. The low-income housing programme, a part of the national housing policy, was being implemented, with the focus on providing access to adequate and affordable housing. In an attempt to provide shelter for disadvantaged persons, the Government had committed to providing decent shelter to all persons concerned by the end of 2019. The target for the number of housing units to be delivered each year had been set at 1,000. 27. In order to improve food security, the Government continued to promote agricultural production through programmes such as the Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development and the Livestock Management and Infrastructure Development Programme. 28. Botswana continued to face challenges such as unemployment, especially among young persons, income inequality and a relatively undiversified economy. Heavy reliance on diamond exports, coupled with a drop in revenue from non-mineral sectors, were expected to have an adverse impact on gross domestic product (GDP). As a part of its policy and planning frameworks, the Government considered economic diversification to be a crucial step towards promoting employment and economic development. 29. Over the past three decades, socioeconomic development had suffered a major setback due to the devastating human and social impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The delegation called for assistance from development partners to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights, development and fundamental freedoms. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 30. During the interactive dialogue, 83 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 4