By Magreth Nunuhe
WINDHOEK – More than four in ten rape cases (43 per cent) in Namibia are withdrawn either at the complainant’s request or because of a prosecutorial decision, indicates a study conducted by the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC).
Yolandy Engelbrecht, an LAC paralegal who presented the study at the ‘Second National Conference on Gender-Based Violence in Namibia’ under the theme ‘Unifying Actions to Eliminate Gender-Based Violence’, revealed that one in five women withdraw cases before a final application order is issued against their perpetrators.
She said “we cannot blame victims for withdrawing cases if we, as service providers and community members, have not done everything possible to reduce the factors that lead to victims withdrawing GBV cases.”
The study listed some of the reasons that lead to victims withdrawing cases as fear of case delays, insufficient evidence, lack of information about the court process, being bribed to withdraw a case, financial considerations and the fear of going to court.
Among other reasons mentioned were distances to court, fear of witchcraft, belief that the male head of household is entitled to sex, belief that the legal system is unjust, fear the case will disclose the victim’s HIV status and fear of rejection by the community.