San People of Botswana Project a

Project Description

Since 2003, the Public International Law & Policy Group has provided legal assistance to the San People of Botswana on the matter of their displacement from their ancestral domain within the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

Non-profit organizations in Botswana, including the First People of the Kalahari (FPK), are attempting to enter into negotiations with the Government of Botswana. PILPG counsels the Indigenous Land Rights Fund, a U.S.-based NGO, which assists FPK in their efforts to return the San to their land.  PILPG has drafted legal memoranda for the San on possible international legal remedies.  PILPG also helped the San file a complaint with the Ombudsman of the International Finance Corporation.

In December 2006, the High Court of Botswana ruled that the eviction of the San from their ancestral land was unlawful and unconstitutional. Although the Court ordered the Government of Botswana to allow the San to return to their land, the Government has not implemented that order at present. PILPG continues to provide legal assistance to the San regarding their rights and the implementation of this Court judgment.

PILPG has partnered with Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP to provide assistance to the San.

Media Appearances

PILPG members have been interviewed on National Public Radio and other media outlets regarding the displacement of the San.  

Project Team

Tracy Martin, Senior Research Associate
Emily Wann, Senior Research Associate

Yolande Bouka, Research Associate
Jeanne Cook, Research Associate
Brett Gerson, Research Associate
Caroline Swartz-Zern, Research Associate
Tara Van De Mark, Research Associate
Rebecca Wolf, Research Associate


Advisory Council

J. Christina Broch
Toluwanimi S. Fadeyi
Jennifer Harris
Tamer Nagy Mahmoud
Melanie Nakagawa