Cautionary Rule In Botswana

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CHAPTER 1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION/ JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY The cautionary rule is a rule that has evolved and during the process has been received with warm ,open hands and extensively applied by the Botswana courts .This rule dictates that Judges should caution themselves on the dangers of convicting on uncorroborated evidence of the complainant or the victim as the case may be .The position of the law in Botswana is basically that the evidence of the complainant need not be corroborated in sexual offences but it does require as mentioned above that the Judge or that the court should warn itself of the dangers of convicting the accused on the uncorroborated evidence. There are No statutory provisions which give directions as to how this …show more content…

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY • To find out the rationale behind the formulation and application of this rule? • To find out the essence and importance of the cautionary rule • To find out whether the rule forms a crucial element of a trial relating to sexual offences committed against women and girls, if so, to what extent • To find out the shortcomings of the rule with respect to women who are victims in sexual offences? • To find out whether the application of the rule discriminatory to women and girls in sexual offences? • To find out provisions on Human rights that it violates from different human rights instruments • To find out what normally follows in instances where the cautionary rule is not applied? • To find out if the rationale for the application of the cautionary rule justified? • To find out if Botswana should abolish the practice of applying the rule from its criminal justice …show more content…

It must be understood that the aim of the author is to advocate that this rule is indeed discriminatory against women who are victims in sexual offences, therefore the comparison will be made between Botswana and other countries which have abolished the application of the rule in sexual offences because of its discriminative nature .These countries include , inter alia, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Canada and Fiji .The rationale behind the abolition of the cautionary rule in the aforementioned countries shall also be looked into .The chapter shall be submitted on the 13th of

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