Southern Africa often draws praise for its nations’ progressive constitutions, relatively mature democracies and advanced state of development compared to the rest of the continent.

Hidden in the background of that rosy picture, activists say, is a new and worrying trend: a ‘downward spiral’ of human rights in the region.

Human Rights Watch is calling for Southern African Development Community leaders meeting in Botswana to do more to arrest this new trend, which has even affected South Africa, long thought of as a haven for rights on the continent.

To read the article titled, “Activists push Southern Africa for Human Rights improvements,” click here.