TECL

National Constitution


The Botswana Constitution of 1965 contains a chapter on protection of fundamental rights and freedoms. This includes a section that protects all individuals from forced labour and slavery. There is, however, no provision singling out children for special mention and protection.

The full text of section 6 reads as follows:

“6. Protection from slavery and forced labour
(1) No person shall be held in slavery or servitude.
(2) No person shall be required to perform forced labour.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the expression "forced labour" does not include:
(a) any labour required in consequence of the sentence or order of a court;
(b) labour required of any person while he is lawfully detained that, though not required in consequence of the sentence or order of a court, is reasonably necessary in the interests of hygiene or for the maintenance of the place at which he is detained;
(c) any labour required of a member of a disciplined force in pursuance of his duties as such or, in the case of a person who has conscientious objections to service as a member of a naval, military or air force, any labour that that person is required by law to perform in place of such service;
(d) any labour required during any period of public emergency or in the event of any other emergency or calamity that threatens the life and well-being of the community, to the extent that the requiring of such labour is reasonably justifiable in the circumstances of any situation arising or existing during that period or as a result of that other emergency or calamity, for the purpose of dealing with that situation; or
(e) any labour reasonably required as part of reasonable and normal communal or other civic obligations.”


Full text

http://www.botswanaembassy.org/constitution.html