{{short description|Botswanan activist and lawyer (born 1961)}} {{Infobox person | name = Alice Mogwe | image = Alice Mogwe 2010-1.jpg | caption = Mogwe in 2010 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|2|14|df=y}} | birth_place = Molepolole, Botswana | occupation = President of the International Federation for Human Rights; Director of Ditshwanelo }}
'''Alice Bahumi Mogwe''' (born 14 February 1961) is a Motswana activist and lawyer. She is the founder and director of the human rights organization Ditshwanelo.
In 2019, she was elected to a three-year term as president of the International Federation for Human Rights, and she was reelected in 2022.
Mogwe's work focuses on protecting political freedoms, abolishing the death penalty, and ensuring rights for minorities, women, children, LGBTQ people, domestic workers, and refugees and other migrants.
== Early life and education == Alice Mogwe was born in 1961 in Molepolole, Botswana. She began university in South Africa during apartheid at the University of Cape Town.<ref name=":3" /> After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1982 and then a bachelor of laws in 1985, she moved to England to obtain a master of laws from the University of Kent in 1990.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2018-01-21|title=MOGWE Alice Bahumi|url=https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/SP/CallApplications/HRC37/FreedomAssembly/MOGWE%20Alice%20Bahumi%20form.doc|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205135127/http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/HRBodies/SP/CallApplications/HRC37/FreedomAssembly/MOGWE%20Alice%20Bahumi%20form.doc|archive-date=2018-02-05|website=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights}}</ref><ref name=":3" />
== Career == After returning to Botswana, Mogwe began her career as a human rights lawyer, becoming a founding member of the organization Women and Law in Southern Africa.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=The governance of legal pluralism : empirical studies from Africa and beyond|others=Zips, Werner, 1958-, Weilenmann, Markus, 1954-|date=2011 |isbn=978-3-7000-0517-9|location=Wien|oclc=706409713}}</ref>
In 1993, she established the human rights organization Ditshwanelo, which she has continued to direct.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|date=2019-10-25|title=La militante botswanaise Alice Mogwe élue présidente de la FIDH|language=fr|work=Le Monde|url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2019/10/25/la-militante-botswanaise-alice-mogwe-elue-presidente-de-la-fidh_6016855_3212.html|url-status=live|archive-date=2020-11-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116043332/https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2019/10/25/la-militante-botswanaise-alice-mogwe-elue-presidente-de-la-fidh_6016855_3212.html}}</ref> The organization, also known as the Botswana Centre for Human Rights, provides legal aid and otherwise advocates for human rights causes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ditshwanelo - the Botswana Centre for Human Rights|url=https://www.eldis.org/organisation/A35588|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921074635/https://www.eldis.org/organisation/A35588|archive-date=2020-09-21|access-date=2020-12-02|website=Eldis}}</ref>
Her human rights work with Ditshwanelo included supporting the rights of indigenous groups in Botswana such as the Basarwa.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Meldrum|first=Andrew|date=2004-03-05|title=San fight to keep Kalahari hunting grounds|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/mar/05/andrewmeldrum|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025092258/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/mar/05/andrewmeldrum|archive-date=2019-10-25|access-date=2020-12-02|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Kenyon|first=Paul|date=2005-11-06|title=Row over Bushmen 'genocide'|language=en-GB|work=BBC Radio 4|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/crossing_continents/4404816.stm|url-status=live|access-date=2020-12-02|archive-date=2018-10-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003133106/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/crossing_continents/4404816.stm}}</ref> She is also known for having organized legal fights against death penalty cases and against the deportation of refugees.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Tebele|first=Mpho|date=2019-09-02|title=Bots gives Nam refugees ultimatum to return home|url=https://southerntimesafrica.com/site/news/bots-gives-nam-refugees-ultimatum-to-return-home|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025093813/https://southerntimesafrica.com/site/news/bots-gives-nam-refugees-ultimatum-to-return-home|archive-date=2019-10-25|access-date=2020-12-02|website=The Southern Times|language=en}}</ref>
Mogwe founded and worked with various other civil society organizations in Botswana, including the Domestic Workers’ Foundation and the Botswana Labor Migrants Association.<ref name=":0" /> She has also worked as an election observer in Botswana and as co-chair of Tanzania Elections Watch.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Alice Mogwe|url=https://www.icnl.org/about-us/bio/alice-mogwe|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202141157/https://www.icnl.org/about-us/bio/alice-mogwe|archive-date=2020-12-02|access-date=2020-12-02|website=International Center for Not-for-Profit Law|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-03|title=Tanzania Election Watch Panel of Eminent Persons Calls for Release of Arrested Opposition Leaders|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202011030553.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125223933/https://allafrica.com/stories/202011030553.html|archive-date=2020-11-25|access-date=2020-12-02|website=AllAfrica|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Mutambo|first=Aggrey|date=2020-10-30|title=Magufuli takes wide lead over Lissu in Tanzania presidential election|url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/magufuli-takes-wide-lead-over-lissu-in-tanzania-presidential-election-2726300|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120104210/https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/news/east-africa/magufuli-takes-wide-lead-over-lissu-in-tanzania-presidential-election-2726300|archive-date=2020-11-20|access-date=2020-12-02|website=The East African|language=en}}</ref>
A practicing Anglican, she is a member of the Anglican Peace and Justice Network.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-10-29|title=Alice Mogwe is elected President of the International Federation for Human Rights|url=https://anglicanpeacejustice.net/alice-mogwe-is-elected-president-of-the-international-federation-for-human-rights/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202141202/https://anglicanpeacejustice.net/alice-mogwe-is-elected-president-of-the-international-federation-for-human-rights/|archive-date=2020-12-02|access-date=2020-12-02|website=Anglican Peace and Justice Network|language=en-GB}}</ref> Early in her career, she served as a delegate for the World Council of Churches.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Anderson|first=David E.|date=1993-06-26|title=Making human rights a universal objective|work=St. Petersburg Times}}</ref>
In 2019, Mogwe was elected president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), a major nongovernmental human rights federation and watchdog group.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lynch|first=Justin|date=2020-02-12|title=Will Sudan's Bashir Be Handed to the ICC at Last?|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/02/12/sudan-omar-al-bashir-icc-darfur/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130050745/https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/02/12/sudan-omar-al-bashir-icc-darfur/|archive-date=2020-11-30|access-date=2020-12-02|website=Foreign Policy|language=en-US}}</ref> She was the first woman from Sub-Saharan Africa to lead the organization.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last=Ndlovu |first=Thapelo |date=2024-12-13 |title=French President honors Alice Mogwe |url=https://www.pressreader.com/botswana/botswana-guardian/20241213/281741275011636?srsltid=AfmBOoqd10-TZJz9nUChX6zBrPvCIgJEA2_pq6sXt9-JttpjLBMaGYNq |access-date=2025-03-06 |work=Botswana Guardian}}</ref> After her first three-year term, she was reelected in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-27 |title=Alice Mogwe re-elected President of FIDH for a second three-year term ! |url=https://www.fidh.org/en/about-us/What-is-FIDH/alice-mogwe-re-elected-president-of-fidh-for-a-second-three-years |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=International Federation for Human Rights |language=en}}</ref> She had previously served as deputy secretary-general, then secretary-general of the organization.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-05-27|title=FIDH opens an office in South Africa|url=https://www.fidh.org/en/region/Africa/south-africa/fidh-opens-an-office-in-south-africa|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930052426/https://www.fidh.org/en/region/Africa/south-africa/fidh-opens-an-office-in-south-africa|archive-date=2020-09-30|access-date=2020-12-02|website=Fédération internationale pour les droits humains|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2019-10-24|title=Botswana activist Alice Mogwe, new FIDH President:"The universality of human rights is under attack - we must fight back!"|url=https://www.fidh.org/en/region/asia/taiwan/botswana-activist-alice-mogwe-elected-new-fidh-president-the|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202141257/https://www.fidh.org/en/region/asia/taiwan/botswana-activist-alice-mogwe-elected-new-fidh-president-the|archive-date=2020-12-02|access-date=2020-12-02|website=International Federation for Human Rights|language=en}}</ref> Mogwe has also served two terms on the board of International Service for Human Rights.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 December 2021 |title=SOAS PhD scholar wins prestigious human rights award |url=https://www.soas.ac.uk/news/newsitem156301.html |access-date=22 May 2022 |website=SOAS University of London}}</ref>
== Awards and recognition == *FES Human Rights Award 2021 * Human Rights Prize of the Commission Nationale Consultative des Droits de l’Homme (CNCDH) (2012) * David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award (2010)<ref name=":3" /> * Recognition of Contribution as a Vanguard Women's Leader of Botswana (2005) * Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Merite awarded by the Government of the Republic of France (2005)<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-12-13|title=DITSHWANELO receives human rights award|url=https://www.sundaystandard.info/ditshwanelo-receives-human-rights-award/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919025759/https://www.sundaystandard.info/ditshwanelo-receives-human-rights-award/|archive-date=2020-09-19|access-date=2020-12-02|website=Sunday Standard|language=en-GB}}</ref> * Chevalier, French Legion of Honour (2024)<ref name=":5" />
== Publications ==
* Mogwe, A. (1994). Human Rights in Botswana: Feminism, Oppression, and “Integration”. ''Alternatives'', ''19''(2), 189-193. * Mogwe, A. L. I. C. E., & Melville, I. N. G. R. I. D. (2012). Human dignity and democracy. ''A Fine Balance: Assessing the Quality of Governance in Botswana'', 83-99. * Mogwe, A. (1992). Botswana: Abortion ‘debate’dynamics. ''Agenda'', ''8''(12), 41-43.
== External links ==
* [https://independent.academia.edu/alicemogwe Alice Mogwe] at Academia.edu
== References == <references />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mogwe, Alice}} Category:1961 births Category:Botswana human rights activists Category:Botswana women activists Category:Women lawyers Category:Botswana Anglicans Category:University of Cape Town alumni Category:Alumni of the University of Kent Category:Living people Category:Kweneng District Category:Knights of the Legion of Honour