Rape dominates GBV in Namibia National productivity in the country is reported to be in balance as half of the population is subjected to gender-based violence (GBV).Women Action for Development''s executive director, Salatiel Shinedima made this statement last week Friday in Windhoek''s informal settlement of Hakahana during the launch of 16 days of Activism against GBV.
Shinedima made an appeal to the Namibian nation to end the violence and start pushing for the national development agenda. He also urged fathers to start spending time with their boys, teaching them how to be responsible fathers who do not abuse their wives or commit rape.
“A nation with too many people living in fear of GBV will not move its development agenda forward. Our country has a good development agenda, but we might not realise these goals because those who are to implement them are subjected to GVB. Where have we gone wrong as a nation?” Shinedima asked.
He said most of GBV perpetrators are men who are either raping young girls or abusing their partners. “Let these be 16 days of hope to those who are living in abusive relationships. Fellow men let us end the violence and build our country,” he said.
Nampol''s deputy inspector-general Major-General James Tjivikua seconded Shinedima. He said that GBV made every Namibian live in fear.
“Young ones are afraid to be abused by their parent or raped; women are afraid that if they fall into relationships they will be violated, while the whole nation fears being murdered,” he said.
He urged police officers to launch thorough investigations into every GBV case reported.
“Report every GBV-related offence to the police and let no police station or officer turn away complainants without a proper investigation into such cases. The nation is traumatised by the increase in cases of GBV which are claiming the lives of loved ones on daily basis. This makes every citizen live in fear that they might be next,” Tjivikua said.
He also reported that from January 2015 to November this year, 1 038 rape cases, 2 010 attempt rapes, 787 assaults, 58 murders and 56 attempt murders were reported.
Tjivikua expressed his disappointment in those who fail to report GBV-related offences saying it makes it difficult for them to combat GBV crimes.
The United Nations resident coordinator, Kiki Gbeho said Namibia adopted various anti-GBV international declarations and national policies, but GBV remains high.
The 16 days of Activism against GBV is an international campaign that is commemorated from 25 November (the International Day against GBV) to 10 December (International Human Rights Day), in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights.
First Lady Monica Geingos and gender equality and child welfare minister, Doreen Sioka launched the campaign.
ILENI NANDJATO