By Petronella Sibeene
WINDHOEK
“They have been cooked, their dismembered bodies are being found in suitcases, and their homes have been turned into human abattoirs.”
These were the words of a saddened Head of State Hifikepunye Pohamba when he officially opened Namibia’s first-ever Gender-Based Violence Conference yesterday. The conference is taking place in Windhoek.
Described as a milestone, the conference takes place against the backdrop of yet another cruel act of a headless torso found by a lay-by outside Windhoek, the rape of four-months-old twins by their father and a discovery of a young man’s headless body in Rehoboth.
Pohamba pleaded with the delegates at the conference to put up efforts to effectively implement the laws that would see an end to the current turmoil.
“We have seen some of the most cruel and barbaric incidents of gender-based violence in this country despite the fact that there are laws in place such as the Namibian Constitution, Combating Domestic Violence Act and Combating of Rape Act, among others”, said Pohamba whose speech was delivered by the Minister of Presidential Affairs Dr Albert Kawana.
Nampol statistics reveal that annually there are 10 000 cases of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. More than 6000 of these cases are perpetrated by men. Reported cases of murder with firearms total 329 of which 248 are committed by men. The Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) in its recent report says that some of the cases are withdrawn by complainants hence preventing justice to take its course.
Pohamba urged representatives from the 13 regions among other attendants to help government identify the root, stem and branch causes of domestic violence in the Namibian society.
According to the President, there is a need for the adoption of strategies in changing realities.
Gender Based Violence is directed at mostly women and children. The President said Namibians should know that both men and women are equal partners in all spheres be it social, cultural, economic and political.
Violence has a negative impact not only on individuals, but also the entire nation.
“Without the partnership of both men and women in all spheres of development, Namibia will not successfully address the problems confronting our nation,” he said.
UNICEF Representative Khin-Sandi Lwin supported Pohamba’s view that without gender equality global goals on human development cannot be met.
“Gender-based violence is one of the worst manifestations of gender inequality and of human underdevelopment,” she stressed.
Violence in Namibia is so pervasive that UN agencies have made it their priority programme areas.
The UN agencies last week donated N$631 844 towards hosting the conference. According to Lwin, it is the first time that UN agencies have jointly funded a single event in such sizeable amount – a testimony of desperation for a lasting solution to the problem.
The country has made remarkable progress in establishing an enabling environment of laws and policies yet horrific murder cases are on the rise.
Lwin says Namibia lags far behind in addressing gender equality in terms of societal attitudes towards women and girls.
“We need a sea change in societal attitudes. We need to take it upon ourselves to change ourselves in our attitudes that see women as second-class citizens, as objects of sex, that men need to show their dominance with brute force, that alcohol drive men insane to do things beyond their control,” she added.
Policies and laws are well defined, government has committed itself to social issues and human development but one ingredient left to make it happen is the political and social will to act, she added.
While UN agencies have been working with government through relevant ministries to seek solutions to the problem, Lwin called for urgent attention to Nampol’s infrastructure for case management.
Lwin says the budget allocation for the child and women protection units of Nampol are extremely small or non-existent.
“If containing such violent and horrific crimes is indeed a national priority, the Nampol infrastructure needs serious attention,” she remarked.