WINDHOEK– The Namibian youths are calling on all member states of the United Nations to strongly condemn any act of sexual violence in conflict situations.
Twenty-one Namibian students of the Youth for Human Rights Namibia recently participated in a Model United Nations (UN) Summit on Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI), in which they represented 21 different countries, and came up with a Declaration to feed into the discussions of the global PSVI summit which started yesterday in London. The Declaration, which they handed over to the Namibian Member of Parliament, Peter Katjavivi, at the end of the summit here in Windhoek, would be presented to London summit. It further calls for impunity so that perpetrators shall not escape the hands of justice including governments that find themselves guilty of this crime. The declaration also calls for the establishment of a commission of inquiry to ensure that there shall be accountability to deal with perpetrators of sexual violence; to provide expertise in the investigating, documenting and prosecution of acts of sexual violence; to mobilise funds for the victims of sexual violence to provide various services to victims of sexual violence; to make concerted efforts to educate the victims of sexual violence on their rights and the available legal remedies open to them; to integrate education efforts for security personnel to be able to deal with gender based violence responses and the promotion of gender equality. Katjavivi together with officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Namibian High Commissioner to the UK will present the declaration to the global summit.
Marianne Young, the British High Commissioner says that sexual violence in conflict remains one of the greatest, most persistent and most neglected injustices. “It inflicts unimaginable suffering and represents one of the most serious forms of violation or abuse of an individual’s human rights. I am delighted that Namibian youth have risen to engage this pressing challenge and produced a powerful declaration that will be fed into this week’s groundbreaking event in London,” said Young at the summit.
Namibian diplomat to the United Kingdom (UK) George Liswaniso told the students during the summit that Namibia refused to be a silent spectator and manifested her global responsibility by spearheading a resolution at the UN Security Council in 2000, entitled Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
The Summit in London is the largest international gathering ever held on the issue of Sexual Violence in Conflict. All 144 States who have endorsed the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict have been invited at Ministerial level. Over 1,200 delegates, including government officials, international organisation representatives, and a broad range of domestic and international experts are expected to attend. The summit will end on Friday.