Possible Solution to GBV

ALFEUS LUNGAMENI HAMUNDJA WRITES:

The phenomenon of gender-based violence (GBV) has a history. GBV started a long time ago. The genesis of GBV is found in the first book of Moses, called Genesis. There was a man called Jacob who was later renamed Israel, which means the father of nations. Jacob had 13 children –12 boys and one girl, Dinah. All the boys were given land, except Dinah. She did not get land; she was raped.

Fellow Namibians, ladies and gentlemen, this is where the discrimination against the girl child begins. The denial of rights to the girl child. And for us in Namibia or elsewhere in the world, to address GBV, we need to go back to history.

I believe that we will never address GBV with: empowering more women than men. This will end in tears. I think GBV can only be addressed if we teach both the boy and the girl child what is right and what is wrong. Also, by teaching the boy child that he is the protector of his sisters, girlfriends, wives, and children.

The prevalence of GBV in Namibia highlights its urgency as a national issue that demands attention from both citizens and lawmakers.

In Namibia, women now hold 51% of seats in Parliament. The country stands as a beacon of gender equality in the region and beyond. (The Land of the Brave) has made significant strides towards gender equality in under 35 years. However, women continue to face a range of challenges in politics – from gender-based violence to gender stereotypes that limit their access to leadership positions.

GBV remains a major barrier to women’s participation in political life, with female politicians and journalists often subjected to harassment, threats, and online abuse.

According to statistics provided by the Namibian Police in May 2024, there were 17,669 reported cases of GBV between January 2020 and December 2023, with 14,349 of the victims being women. Additionally, police reports indicate that 666 rape cases were recorded nationwide from 1 January 2023 to 30 June 2024 – though actual figures may be higher due to underreporting.

Namibian citizens need to demand more. We should not be bound to any political party – our loyalty should be to our country.

Fellow Namibians, you might not know that only the LPM, NUDO, NEFC, and SWAPO parties included GBV in their 2024 manifestos. That is commendable. The other seven parties failed to include GBV in their manifestos, and this is a clear signal of their absence in recognising the significant role they have to play in addressing GBV in Namibia.

I fully concur with what is stated in the LPM manifesto regarding reducing GBV in Namibia. LPM suggests that GBV and child-afflicting violence require in-depth studies and redress. Moreover, they suggest that focus should be placed on the boy child, who these days is left behind – and society is already witnessing the sad state of the boy child in Namibia.

They also propose that the Ministry of Gender should be directed to work with local scholars and institutions to conduct research into the specific causes of GBV. This research can produce applicable solutions that the ministry can adopt and implement.

Finally, I am saying we need an urgent bill in Parliament that will address the escalating crisis of rape, kidnapping, and cold-blooded murder of our children.



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