The Namibian Police on Friday launched its Gender-Based Violence National Action Plan to improve responsiveness, expedite investigations and accentuate collaborative and consultative interventions.
Crimes committed within domestic settings decreased from 5 427 cases during 2019/2020 to 2 643 cases in the 2020/2021 financial year.
Namibian Police deputy inspector general for administration Anne-Marie Nainda said during the official launch that “we probably need to look at how we are communicating our message so that we can do it in such a way that it would attract men who are victims to report the crimes being committed against them. We also need to look at what we are doing wrong that is making men not to come forth.”
Although there is a decrease in the crimes committed within domestic settings, crimes such as rape with an element of alcohol abuse, attempted murder with a weapon, pointing of a firearm in which alcohol abuse was a factor and murder with a firearm slightly increased during the 2020/2021 financial year, compared to the 2019/2020 financial year. The police recorded a reduction in cases of rape, assault read with the provisions of the GBV Act, in which alcohol is a factor and that occurred within a domestic setting, arson, malicious damage to property and common assault in a domestic setting.
“GBV should not only be the concern of law enforcement, but everyone else’s concern. Hence, the community should report it! You can hide the bruises on your body, but what about the damage to your soul? Let me encourage all victims to speak out against GBV, break the silence, report all forms of violence as by doing so, we will paralyse all potential perpetrators,” stressed Nainda.
She explained that the development of the Namibian Police Gender-Based Violence National Action Plan for 2020/2021 under the theme ‘Everyone Deserves to Live Free from Violence’ commenced in November 2020, and the aim is to enhance policing efforts to improve responsiveness, expedite investigations and accentuate collaborative and consultative interventions.
Monthly and quarterly reports will be compiled to ensure the action plan serves its intended purpose, and to address loopholes for the monitoring and evaluation of the project.
“The action plan will also add value to the services that NamPol is offering, such as customer care when dealing with members of the public, at charge offices, and that community affairs offices strive to be proactive at all times and not be reactive to crime reports,” said Nainda.
-mamakali@nepc.com.na