Africa a 'horror show' for women, children - report

While the African Union (AU) is advancing landmark legislation to create a robust framework for the prevention of and response to violence, the lives of sexual violence survivors across Africa remain a horror show, according to a report.In Namibia, authorities have been urged to proactively identify trafficking victims such as commercial sex workers, children, migrants and refugees, as the country has failed to meet minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. According to the 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report for Namibia by the United States government, traffickers subject Namibian children to sex trafficking and forced labour. The report also highlights the influx of thousands of Angolan migrants fleeing severe drought in south-eastern Angola, with more than 1 250 Angolan children living in informal settlements in Namibia vulnerable to sex trafficking and forced labour. “Traffickers exploit individuals from Angola, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa in sex trafficking and forced labour in Namibia. Traffickers transport potential victims through Namibia on their way to South Africa,” the report noted.The same report stated that at the Osire Refugee Camp - with more than 3 000 children, the majority from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) - it has been reported that children in the camp exploited in sex trafficking did not receive proper protection services.Sexual violenceMeanwhile, in DRC, children are frequent targets of sexual violence, with one healthcare professional reporting treating a survivor as young as three years old. Women and girls account for almost 90% of all cases, according to a report by Physicians for Human Rights - titled 'Massive Influx of Cases' -released this month. “[There is] the threat of violence, stigma associated with sexual violence, and fear of jeopardising their marriage or other social relationships. Survivors who are able to or choose to seek care often require specialised medical care, psychological care, prenatal or abortion services, and forensic documentation services,” the report read.On the other hand, the United Nations Population Fund has raised alarms over escalating gender-based violence (GBV) in Sudan, including kidnapping and forced marriage. “Humanitarian access is compromised in conflict zones, impacting medical care, maternal health and the supply of menstrual hygiene products.”Ironically, in Ethiopia - home to the AU headquarters - severe violence against women and girls caught in the crossfire of the Tigray conflict has been reported. According to Hale Teka, a gynecologist in Tigray, thousands of women have been subjected to rape, gang rape, forced marriage and other brutal acts, and the acts have been met with indifference and inaction by authorities.“It’s clear that rape and sexual violence have been used as a weapon of war to inflict lasting physical and psychological damage on women and girls in Tigray. Hundreds have been subjected to brutal treatment aimed at degrading and dehumanising them,” Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s secretary-general said in 2021.jemima@nmh-hub.com.na

Africa a 'horror show' for women, children - report

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-31

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Africa a 'horror show' for women, children - report

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-31

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