Geingob promises relief for gays, northerners
President Hage Geingob yesterday said there’s no room in his proverbial Namibian House for old laws discriminating against citizens based on gender and sexuality.
JEMIMA BEUKES
WINDHOEK
President Hage Geingob yesterday strongly hinted at discarding laws that have for decades discriminated against same-sex couples in Namibia when he said no one should be discriminated against on the basis of their gender in a speech to parliament.
Both the High Court and Supreme Court have in recent rulings urged the legislature to discard laws that discriminate against queer Namibians, including not recognising same-sex marriages.
In January, three High Court judges spoke out strongly in favour of Namibia legally recognising same-sex marriages, saying: “We believe it is time for Namibia’s constitution to reflect that homosexuality is part and parcel of our society, and that persons, human beings who are in homosexual relationships, are worthy of being afforded the same rights as all Namibians”.
Judges Hannelie Prinsloo, Orben Sibeya and Esi Schimming-Chase made the remarks in response to applications brought by two Namibians and their same-sex non-Namibian spouses who have fought for more than five years to have their marriages recognised by immigration authorities. The applications were dismissed because there is currently no law recognising such marriages.
Yesterday, Geingob said: “I am pleased that the Obsolete Laws Bill will provide for the repeal of certain obsolete laws, many of which are discriminatory on the grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed as well as social and economic status. There is no place for such laws in the Namibian House.”
Marriage Bill
The head of state was also elated that the Marriage Bill, which for long has discriminated against married people north of the so-called red line, was up for tabling this year.
“The Marriage Bill will ensure that couples wedded north of the red line will be given an opportunity to change their marriage status on whether they will be married out or in community of property. Currently, marriages north of the red line are automatically classified as out of community of property,” he said.
“This creates problems during divorce or when dealing with the estate on the death of a spouse.”
He added: “With the new bill, if two married persons have reached irreconcilable differences, they will be able to divorce. Hopefully this contributes to reducing violence as well. However, we are not encouraging divorce.”
Other bills up for tabling include the Combatting of Rape Amendment Bill, Criminal Procedure Amendment Bill, High Court Amendment Bill, Magistrate’s Court Amendment Bill, Divorce Bill, Torture Bill, Ombudsman Bill, Child Justice Bill, Uniform Marriages Bill, Banking Institutions Amendment Bill and the Metrology Bill.
GBV is a taboo
On the Domestic Violence Amendment Bill, which is aimed at stamping out the high rate of gender-based-violence (GBV) in Namibia, Geingob said: “We hope that this will tighten the loopholes and enable easier reporting, investigation and punishment of GBV cases”.
“This bill should serve as a serious reminder to offenders and would be offenders that GBV is a taboo in the Republic of Namibia, punishable through heavy prison sentences.”
Geingob also appealed to his fellow men to become exemplary husbands, fathers and protectors of their families.
“It is also a sad reality that while men are drinking in bars, women are progressing socially, academically and economically. When one attends graduation ceremonies, one sees more girls than boys. When one attends church, like I do, one sees more girls in church than boys. This trend is starting to show in the corporate world where women are starting to occupy higher positions. Some may even be higher earners than their husbands. This can frustrate male chauvinists who may display ‘frustration aggression’ such as beatings and even killings,” he observed.
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
President Hage Geingob yesterday strongly hinted at discarding laws that have for decades discriminated against same-sex couples in Namibia when he said no one should be discriminated against on the basis of their gender in a speech to parliament.
Both the High Court and Supreme Court have in recent rulings urged the legislature to discard laws that discriminate against queer Namibians, including not recognising same-sex marriages.
In January, three High Court judges spoke out strongly in favour of Namibia legally recognising same-sex marriages, saying: “We believe it is time for Namibia’s constitution to reflect that homosexuality is part and parcel of our society, and that persons, human beings who are in homosexual relationships, are worthy of being afforded the same rights as all Namibians”.
Judges Hannelie Prinsloo, Orben Sibeya and Esi Schimming-Chase made the remarks in response to applications brought by two Namibians and their same-sex non-Namibian spouses who have fought for more than five years to have their marriages recognised by immigration authorities. The applications were dismissed because there is currently no law recognising such marriages.
Yesterday, Geingob said: “I am pleased that the Obsolete Laws Bill will provide for the repeal of certain obsolete laws, many of which are discriminatory on the grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed as well as social and economic status. There is no place for such laws in the Namibian House.”
Marriage Bill
The head of state was also elated that the Marriage Bill, which for long has discriminated against married people north of the so-called red line, was up for tabling this year.
“The Marriage Bill will ensure that couples wedded north of the red line will be given an opportunity to change their marriage status on whether they will be married out or in community of property. Currently, marriages north of the red line are automatically classified as out of community of property,” he said.
“This creates problems during divorce or when dealing with the estate on the death of a spouse.”
He added: “With the new bill, if two married persons have reached irreconcilable differences, they will be able to divorce. Hopefully this contributes to reducing violence as well. However, we are not encouraging divorce.”
Other bills up for tabling include the Combatting of Rape Amendment Bill, Criminal Procedure Amendment Bill, High Court Amendment Bill, Magistrate’s Court Amendment Bill, Divorce Bill, Torture Bill, Ombudsman Bill, Child Justice Bill, Uniform Marriages Bill, Banking Institutions Amendment Bill and the Metrology Bill.
GBV is a taboo
On the Domestic Violence Amendment Bill, which is aimed at stamping out the high rate of gender-based-violence (GBV) in Namibia, Geingob said: “We hope that this will tighten the loopholes and enable easier reporting, investigation and punishment of GBV cases”.
“This bill should serve as a serious reminder to offenders and would be offenders that GBV is a taboo in the Republic of Namibia, punishable through heavy prison sentences.”
Geingob also appealed to his fellow men to become exemplary husbands, fathers and protectors of their families.
“It is also a sad reality that while men are drinking in bars, women are progressing socially, academically and economically. When one attends graduation ceremonies, one sees more girls than boys. When one attends church, like I do, one sees more girls in church than boys. This trend is starting to show in the corporate world where women are starting to occupy higher positions. Some may even be higher earners than their husbands. This can frustrate male chauvinists who may display ‘frustration aggression’ such as beatings and even killings,” he observed.
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