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Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA)

Gaborone, Botswana
Joined March 2021

BONELA's purpose is to promote, protect and fulfil a human rights approach to HIV/AIDS and broader issues in Botswana through awareness raising, capacity building and advocacy.

Presence in: Botswana
Focus: Gender-based violence, Generalist Legal Services, Health, Other, Policy Advocacy, Right to Information, Women's Rights

The Botswana Network on Ethics Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) was established and registered as a national network in 2002. Our purpose is to promote a human rights approach to the HIV/AIDS and TB response through awareness raising, capacity building and advocacy. Our Vision is making the right to health a reality in Botswana and our Mission is to work to ensure protection, promotion and fulfilment of the right to health in Botswana. Since inception, part of BONELA’s unique contribution has been a focus on the human rights of the most vulnerable, marginalized and Key Population communities.

BONELA has profiled its niche in the HIV/AIDS, health and human rights sector as demonstrated by the following key achievements and programming track record:

  • Co- facilitated the National Legal Environment Assessment (LEA) with Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) which identified key legal and policy gaps which create barriers for universal access to TB/HIV services for Key and Vulnerable populations.
  • Built capacity of over 32 Civil Society and Community Based Organizations on Human Rights Programming to facilitate more focused, sustainable, community-level KP an peer-led interventions to support broader participation of communities for political engagement and lobbying for law and policy reforms at community level.
  • Conducted targeted training of over 300 health care workers and other service providers on human rights and ethics to promote an enabled environment for increased access to health, social and legal services for vulnerable and marginalised groups.
  • Reached over 500 000 people through community level Human Rights awareness through community dialogues, electronic (radio, print and social media) to promote the rights of vulnerable and marginalized groups.
  • Sustained access to Legal services for 18 years reaching over 1000 clients through Legal and Human Rights Literacy and the BONELA Legal AID Program.