By Petronella Sibeene
WINDHOEK
The recent National Conference on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), described as historic, ended last Friday with great hope that recommendations arising from the deliberations will provide a plan of action that would eliminate violence in the country.
Facilitator of the conference, Gladys Mutukwa, said the results of the conference that was held against a backdrop of some horrendous crimes would have serious implications, not only for Namibia but also for the SADC family of nations.
During the four days of intense discussions, most stakeholders cited a lack of resources as one of the greatest challenges hampering programmes that would create awareness on gender-based violence.
Attended by 350 delegates from different sectors across the country and beyond, the conference resolved that adequate budgetary allocations be made for all relevant stakeholders for a zero tolerance campaign to be carried out.
The delegates proposed that the national gender machinery should receive adequate budgetary allocation for gender mainstreaming programmes.
To help leaders in different communities, it was proposed that conferences on gender-based violence be conducted in the 13 political regions of the country. This will help create awareness, discuss local issues and build nation-wide capacity for addressing the problem.
Various arms of government, such as the Women and Child Protection units, need to be spread throughout the country. These units, the delegates stressed, should have their own budgets for training, counselling, and adequate equipment and premises that would include shelter for battered women and children.
Currently, there are 15 units across the country. These are described as inadequate as in some instances survivors/victims have to be kept at some health centres and sometimes police stations for safety.
The units will also need greater prominence and modern communications technology.
While the country has high cases of gender-based violence, a dire need for adequately trained social workers in the regions and at all units remains unsolved.
During the conference, it was resolved that a quota of bursaries at the University of Namibia should be reserved for students enrolling for social work.
Conditions of service for police officers need to be improved. Statements obtained by police from the accused should be recorded in the language of the complainant to ensure accuracy. This is necessary for other stages of investigation such as medical examinations and court evidence.
“Accurate and timely medical evidence is absolutely essential if the rate of convictions is going to have an impact on gender-based violence. The forensic and medical services need to be adequately staffed and equipped,” said the Director of the National Forensic Science Institute, Dr Paul Ludik.
Gender-based violence has very high socio-economic costs on the nation. As such, it is necessary to have programmes that teach people how to solve differences in a non-violent manner.
Relationship skills should be taught at all levels of society and special attention needs to be paid to women and girls living with disabilities, a situation that places them in double jeopardy.
“It is strategic to have a multi-sectoral and multi-pronged approach to ending gender-based violence and to integrate programmes on this problem into existing forums, institutions, structures, policies and programmes”, said Mutukwa.
The delegates also agreed that the problem of making or amending laws should involve intensive consultations in the regions so that laws are based on the true reality on the ground.
Namibian laws on gender-based violence are described as robust in the SADC region and yet incidents and the intensity of cases of violence are on the rise.
Churches as institutions with greater influence on the masses were urged to seriously implement programmes aimed at eliminating gender-based violence.
Churches should preach and teach about peace at all levels.