The 11th of October is International Day of the Girl Child, a day dedicated to celebrating the achievements and potential of girls worldwide. While this day is an opportunity to recognise the progress made in empowering girls, it must also remind us of the challenges they continue to face on a daily basis. The celebration should not only highlight the girl child’s accomplishment but also address the critical issues that still threaten her well-being and safety in society, especially in Namibia.
In Namibia, we’ve tried to make efforts in making sure that the girl child is taken care of by ensuring that the girl child has access to education and opportunities. However, despite these advancements, girls have never been as unsafe as they are today.
The recent statistics show that between 1 January and 30 June of this year, 666 cases of rape were reported. That means that roughly, four cases of rape happen every single day. Most of these cases involve women and children, particularly young girls, and in some instances, even toddlers. This shocking reality underscores the urgency of the crisis we are facing in Namibia, and highlights how vulnerable the girl child remains.
On 25 September, The Namibian reported a heartbreaking story from the Ohangwena region. A teacher discovered that one of her pupils, a 10-year-old girl, had been raped. The child’s mother had instructed her to apply salt to the wound caused by the rape. When the pupil finally spoke up, the teacher also learned that this 10-year-old and a six-year-old girl had both been raped at their homestead. Rather than protect her child and report the crime, the mother chose to cover up the incident, allowing the perpetrator to escape accountability. This situation is tragic on many levels: not only were these children violated in their own home, a place that should offer safety, but the very person responsible for their care—their mother—swept the crime under the carpet.
This case is a reflection of deeper societal issues. In many communities, there remains a culture of silence around sexual violence. Families, for various reasons—shame, fear of stigma, or dependency on the perpetrator—often choose to hide the rape incidents instead of seeking justice for their children. This culture enables predators to continue abusing the girls because they know they can get away with it, while the victims are left traumatised and without proper support.
We must then ask ourselves: How can we truly celebrate the girl child when she is still at risk, even in the safety of her own home? How can we uplift and empower her when cases like these remind us that her safety, dignity and rights are not always guaranteed?
On this Girl Child Day, while we recognise the achievements of girls, we must also confront the harsh realities they face. It’s not enough to celebrate progress without acknowledging the setbacks. There must be a collective effort to ensure that the girl child is protected from violence and abuse and that perpetrators are held accountable. This requires not only stronger laws and enforcement, but also community education to dismantle harmful beliefs and practices that perpetuate violence against girls. Every girl in Namibia deserves to grow up in a world where she feels safe, respected and valued. As we reflect on this important day, let us commit to creating a future where the girl child is free from harm, and where her worth is recognised not just in words, but in the actions we take to protect her.
*Frieda Mukufa’s lifestyle section concentrates on women-related issues and parenting in the New Era newspaper. She also specialises in editing research proposals, proofreading as well as content- creation.
– etuholefrieda@gmail.com