Towards a policy on naming and shaming of sex offenders in Botswana: Lessons learnt from South Africa and United States of America

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION......................................................................................................................................... 3

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................................................... 4

DEDICATION............................................................................................................................................. 5

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 9

1.1 The Concept of Sex Offender Register .......................................................................................12

1.2 Background of the Study.............................................................................................................13

1.3 Methodology of the Research .....................................................................................................13

1.4 Dissertation Structure..................................................................................................................14

CHAPTER 2: SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN BOTSWANA: A BRIEF CONTEXT ................................ 15

2.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................15

2.2 Prevalence of sexual violence in Botswana ................................................................................15

2.3 Drivers of sexual violence in Botswana......................................................................................19

Patriarchal traditions and norms..........................................................................................19

Poverty ................................................................................................................................20

Alcohol Abuse ....................................................................................................................22

2.4 Reasons for underreporting and withdrawing of sex crimes in Botswana..................................23

2.5 Botswana’s Legal Framework ....................................................................................................25

2.6 Sexual Violence in the private sphere.........................................................................................26

Domestic Violence Act .......................................................................................................26

The Abolition of Marital Power Act ...................................................................................27

Children’s Act .....................................................................................................................29

2.7 Sexual violence in the workplace................................................................................................29

Public Service Act...............................................................................................................30

2.8 Sexual violence in Acts of general application...........................................................................30

Penal Code ..........................................................................................................................31

Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act ................................................................................32

2.9 International and regional instruments addressing sexual violence ............................................32

2.10 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................35

CHAPTER 3: THE CONCEPT OF REGISTRATION LAWS ........................................................... 37

3.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................37

3.2 The Concept of Registration Laws..............................................................................................37

3.3 Registration Laws in the USA ....................................................................................................39

7

3.4 Contents of the register and duration of registration...................................................................41

3.5 Community Notification .............................................................................................................42

3.6 Efficacy of Registration and Notification Laws in the USA.......................................................42

3.7 Registration Laws in South Africa..............................................................................................47

3.8 Contents of the Register..............................................................................................................48

3.9 Obligations of the employer, employee and licensing authorities ..............................................49

3.10 Duration in the Register ..............................................................................................................50

3.11 Efficacy of Registration Laws in South Africa ...........................................................................51

3.12 USA sex offender legislation in comparison with the South African sex offender legislation...54

3.13 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................55

CHAPTER 4: LESSONS LEARNT FROM USA AND SOUTH AFRICA ......................................... 57

4.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................57

4.2 Implementation and maintenance of an accurate and up-to-date data register is difficult to

achieve ....................................................................................................................................................57

4.3 Effectiveness of the register is dependent on the reporting and conviction rates of sex crimes .58

4.4 Economic implications of sex offender registration and notification laws are significant .........59

4.5 Sex offenders have the low recidivism rate ................................................................................60

4.6 Community notification laws may increase the opportunity for reoffending than registration

laws 61

4.7 Registration laws may violate registered sex offender’s fundamental human and constitutional

rights 61

4.8 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................62

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................... 64

5.1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................64

5.2 Public Education .........................................................................................................................64

5.3 Initiatives to address the challenges of alcohol abuse and poverty.............................................65

5.4 Criminal Justice System should be strengthened........................................................................66

5.5 Legal Reform..............................................................................................................................67

5.6 Concluding Remarks...................................................................................................................68

BIBILOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................................................... 70