A/HRC/15/37/Add.2 I. Introduction 1. In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, James Anaya, addresses issues and makes a series of recommendations concerning culturally distinct peoples who are indigenous to Botswana and who have characteristics of non-dominance and marginalization similar to those of indigenous peoples in other parts of the world. It is based on information gathered by the Special Rapporteur during a visit to Botswana from 19 to 27 March 2009, carried out with the cooperation of the Government, and on subsequent exchanges of information and independent research. 2. During the course of his visit, the Special Rapporteur met with Government representatives, indigenous communities and their leaders and a variety of civil society organizations. He held meetings in Gaborone with representatives of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration and the Inter-Ministerial Committee, consisting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, the Ministry of Defence, Justice and Security, the Ministry of Lands and Housing and the Ministry of Education and Skills Development. The Special Rapporteur also met with members of the United Nations country team. 3. The Special Rapporteur conducted field visits to the settlements of Kaudwane in Kweneng District; Gugamma and Metsiamanong in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and New !Xade, West Hanahai and D’kar in Ghanzi District; and Tsodilo Hills, Shaikarawe and Mababe in North West District. He consulted local authorities, indigenous leaders and community members at these locations. The Special Rapporteur met with representatives of a variety of non-governmental organizations, including the Botswana Centre for Human Rights (Ditshwanelo), the Botswana Council of Churches, the Botswana Council of NonGovernmental Organisations, the First People of the Kalahari, and the Kuru Family of Organizations (Letloa, D’Kar Trust, Gantsi Craft, Komku Trust, Bokamoso, TOKADI and Sand Arts & Crafts), the Working Group of Indigenous Minorities in Southern Africa, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve Coalition and Temasi. Lastly, he met with representatives of the University of Botswana’s San/Basarwa Research Project and Gem Diamonds/Gope Exploration Company (Pty) Ltd.1 4. The Special Rapporteur expresses his appreciation to the Government of Botswana and to local indigenous communities and a number of non-governmental organizations of Botswana for the support they provided for the visit. He would like to thank the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Gaborone for its support and instrumental role in the preparation and execution of the visit. 5. Through a letter dated 17 April 2009, the Special Rapporteur submitted to the Government preliminary observations relating to issues discussed during the visit and presented a number of questions, to which the Government responded in a note received by the Special Rapporteur on 12 June 2009. Subsequently, on 24 August the Special Rapporteur transmitted to the Government a preliminary version of the present report and then met with representatives of the Government to discuss the report on 28 September 2009 in Geneva, during the twelfth session of the Human Rights Council. At the meeting it was agreed that the Government would provide written comments on the preliminary version of the report, which were received by the Special Rapporteur on 4 January 2010. 1 4 Mention of firm names and commercial products does not imply the endorsement of the United Nations. GE.10-13968