Monitoring Report Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho Table of Content ABBREVIATIONS 3 INTRODUCTION 4 ANGOLA 5 COUNTRY BACKGROUND 5 HUMAN RIGHTS EVENTS OF MAY 2021 6 Locust Pest and Drought Create Food Insecurity in Southern Angola 6 Angolan Government Reflects on the Importance of Education 7 BOTSWANA 9 COUNTRY BACKGROUND 9 HUMAN RIGHTS EVENTS OF MAY 2021 10 HIV/AIDS Services Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic 10 Proposed Decentralization Policy in Botswana 10 ESWATINI 12 COUNTRY BACKGROUND 12 HUMAN RIGHTS EVENTS OF MAY 2021 13 Violent Protests Against Police Brutality in Eswatini 13 The United Nations Supporting 25 Farmers in Eswatini 14 LESOTHO 15 COUNTRY BACKGROUND 15 HUMAN RIGHTS EVENTS OF MAY 2021 16 Allegations of Abusive Factory Conditions 16 Increased Protection of Persons with Disabilities 17 2 Abbreviations FAO Food and Agriculture Organization GBV Gender-Based Violence GHRD Global Human Rights Defence MoU Memorandum of Understanding NGO Non-Governmental Organization UN United Nations UNFPA United Nations Fund for Population Activities WFP World Food Program 3 Introduction This report aims at highlighting differentiating human rights-related occurrences as present in the southern African continent. Its specific focus will be on Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, as well as Lesotho. It is of crucial importance to highlight the significant progressions and retrogressions of the aforementioned countries and thus, covers selected key occasions as was present throughout May 2021. Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) calls upon the international and national communities, stakeholders as well as governments for constructive policy changes and the support of one another in realizing the full enjoyment of human rights of every individual, with a specific focus on those belonging to marginalized and minority groups. 4 Angola Country Background The Republic of Angola is a country located in the southern African continent, bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Namibia, as well as Zambia. Its national flag holds a specific meaning to the country; red symbolizes the country’s liberty, red symbolizes the African continent, its emblem symbolizes the country’s workers and peasants. According to the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), Angola – accounting for 1,246,700 square kilometers – is home to little over 33,9 million citizens. The country is divided into 18 provinces with Luanda as its capital and largest city, followed by Lubango and Cabinda. The density of its population is mainly found in the western region of the country, including the areas surrounding Luanda. The climate in the country varies from semi-arid in the country’s southern parts – including the coastal areas near Luanda – to cool and dry in its northern regions, with hot and rainy seasons from April to November. The Republic of Angola is a presidential republic led by the Head of State, President João Lourenço, who serves the presidential seat since September 26, 2017. It gained its independence from Portugal as its colonizing power, on 11 November 1975. To date, the country’s legal system remains to be based on Portuguese civil law, with the absence of a judicial review of legislation possibilities. Similarly, its official language is Portuguese, however, Umbundu, Kikongo, Kimbundu, Chokwe, Nhaneca, Nganguela, Fiote, Kwanhama, Muhumbi, Luvale – among other ethnic languages – are also spoken in the country. 5 Human Rights Events of May 2021 Locust Pest and Drought Create Food Insecurity in Southern Angola Fears of severe food insecurity in Angola are increasing due to drought and desert locust swarm, destroying agricultural areas in southern Angola1. The most affected regions concern the Namibe, Belguela, Cunene, and Cuando Cubango provinces. As announced by the Communication and Press Officer Director of the Civil Protection and Firefighting Service, Mr. Félix Domingos, at a press conference taking place on May 11, 2021, the plague is putting at risk cereal production which could lead to severe hunger in the region. In response to the situation, the Angolan National Air Force, Civil Protection and Fire Services are not only spraying the fields with insecticide but also training farmers to fight the locust. Furthermore, about 14,000 families in the Namibe, Cunene, and Huila provinces received food aid to minimize the situation of hunger. The locust swarms started in October 2020 in the Cuando Cubango Province, with means being mobilized to address the situation. A project dealing with the locust situation is carried out by the Mission of Beneficence Agriculture of Kubango Inclusive Technologies and Environment (MBAKITA), a non-government organization (NGO) working for the protection of the rights of indigenous people and traditional communities in the southern provinces of Angola. The project, financed by the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), trains brigadiers in the affected municipalities and raises public awareness regarding the risk of invasion and control of the locusts2. 1 Vieira, A. (2021, May 13). Locusts invade Angola’s southern provinces. The East African. https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/rest-of-africa/locusts-invade-angola-3398382 2 Paulino, C. (2021, May 16). Cuando Cubango without reports of locust plague. Jornal de Angola. https://www.jornaldeangola.ao/ao/noticias/cuando-cubango-sem-relatos-da-praga-de-gafanhotos/ 6 Representative of the FAO in Cuando Cubango, Januário José Cassanga, stated that an operation was carried out between April 19 and May 3, 2021, allowing for reconnaissance of the fields, mapping and spraying fields affected by the pest. Consequently, no reports of the presence of the insects in the municipalities of Calai, Cuangar, Dirico, Mavinga, and Revungo (located in the Cuando Cubango Province) took place. Furthermore, the World Food Program (WFP) – a humanitarian organization focusing on providing food assistance to people recovering from conflict, disasters, and climate change – stated in March 2021 concerning the country’s drought situation that it may be subjected to food shortages during the years, resulting from the persisting drought in its southern provinces. As such, the WFP emphasized that the situation may solely improve provided that above-average rainfalls take place3. Angolan Government Reflects on the Importance of Education On May 20, 2021, a forum took place at the Angolan Jean Piaget University concerning the emerging partnerships between the educational and the business sector, during which the Angolan Minister of State for Social Affairs, Ms. Carolina Cerqueira, highlighted the importance of education for the Angolan economy. More specifically, she emphasized the importance of education in economic development through promoting the active participation of students in the business sector. In line with the goal of improving the education quality in the country, the Angolan Minister of Education, Ms. Luisa Grillo, discussed on May 12, 2021, with her counterpart in Rwanda, Ms. Valentine Uwamariya, their intended plans4. The two announced their joint intention of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) initiating plans aimed at training teachers, upgrading the skills of English teachers, as well as speeding the implementation of projects destined to stimulate the interest of schoolgirls in the field of science. As such, Angola is looking forward 3 Vieira, A. (2021, May 13). Locusts invade Angola’s southern provinces. The East African. https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/rest-of-africa/locusts-invade-angola-3398382 4 Angola :: Angop - AgÊncia Angola Press. (2021b, May 20). Government highlights higher education in diversifying economy - ANGOP. https://www.angop.ao/en/noticias/educacao/executivo-reconhece-papel-do-ensino-superior-na-diversificacao-da- economia/ 7 to establishing a strong partnership with Rwanda in order to improve the educational and consequently, the country’s economic sector. 8 Botswana Country Background The Republic of Botswana is a landlocked country located in the southern African continent, bordering Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, as well as Zimbabwe. Its national flag holds a specific meaning to the country; blue symbolizes water in the form of rain, whereas the black and white stripes symbolize the racial harmony amongst its people. According to the UNFPA, the Republic of Botswana – accounting for 581,730 square kilometers – is home to 2,4 million citizens. The country is divided into 10 districts and 6 town councils with Gaborone as its capital and largest city. The density of its population is mainly found in the eastern part of the country, with a specific focus on the areas surrounding Gaborone, as well as the areas surrounding the central-eastern city of Francistown. However, the density of its population remains low in the country’s remaining areas, especially in the Kalahari desert and towards the west. The climate throughout the country is semi-arid with warm winters and hot summers. The Republic of Botswana is a parliamentary republic led by the Head of State, President Mokweetsi Masisi, who is simultaneously the Head of Government and serves the presidential seat since April 1, 2018. It gained its independence from the United Kingdom as its colonizing power, on 30 September 1966. The country’s legal system is a mixture of civil law, influenced by the Roman-Dutch model, customary law, as well as common law. Its official language is English, however, Setswana, Sekalanga, Shekgalagadi,