Petitioning for protection against rapists

JUSTICIA SHIPENA The topic of sexual assaults against girls and women has been on the table for a quite a while, and fourth-year medical student Tuwilika Nafuka has decided to start the journey towards establishing a sex offenders’ registry. As a medical student at the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana, Cuba, her interest in public health has led to the formation of the Association of Medical Students of Namibia (AMSNA). The association, which is recognised by the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations, creates a platform for Namibian medical students to engage and collaborate with students from more than 120 countries. A sex offenders’ registry (SOR) is database which profiles sex offenders and allows community notification of offenders in their town. “The I Am Not Next Africa (IANNA) community is petitioning to establish a SOR, not as punishment for rapists but to steer towards establishing and sustaining a transparent community one that can keep everyone safe,” Nafuka says.Nafuka says when sex offenders have completed their prison sentences, they are able to return to society as if nothing has happened. “They can get a job at your school, work in a hospital and even in an orphanage because the police clearance certificate issued by the Namibian police does not list rape and other sex crimes,” she says. To Nafuka this speaks volumes about how seriously the government takes the issue of rape in this country.“My sister is now 17 and I fear for her, as I do for Namibian women. There is a sexual and gender-based violence epidemic in Namibia and more efforts need to be made to protect us. “An SOR is us protecting ourselves, our children, disabled people and vulnerable people better,” she says. Nafuka says the coronavirus pandemic has led to a drastic shift in how young people are living in a digital world, with education and social lives all conducted online now. “It really starts with equipping young people with resources, awareness of SGBV and the law, and empowering them to speak up against any form of violence. The educational curriculum of Namibian schools has failed at addressing and equipping young people with SGBV knowledge, but having access to the internet means having access to information.”She emphasises that speaking up about matters that are important to young people is not easy, but it should be intensely encouraged. She says there are a number of factors that make it difficult for young people to full express themselves. “The first thing is to find other young people that think alike and build on that, find an advisor and with them learn to express yourself better,” she says. Nafuka says the IANNA community is working on creating support spaces for young people and providing them with contacts of other assistance organisations. She says it has taken a lot of work to get a petition off the ground. “The concept of a sex offenders’ registry (SOR) is not new in Namibia; the problem is since the passing of the Act in 2015 and the incompletion of the regulations to govern the Act, the government has not done its part in educating and creating the proper awareness around what a sex offenders’ registry is, why it should be established, and how to access it,” she explains. Moreover, she said in Africa, few countries have established a SOR. These include South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria. “While the IANNA community works on establishing a fully digitally accessible SOR, they will also be running campaigns to educate people on what an SOR is and answering some frequently asked questions with regards to it,” she said. The petition supporting the establishment of a digitally accessible sex offender register was started by AMSNA with Nafuka as the brainchild. This petition has garnered almost 4 000 signatures so far.“Young people should support this petition because they too are affected by SGBV in this country. Teenage pregnancies and rape constitute part of the realities of a lot of teenagers in this country,” Nafuka says.Fun facts about Nafuka · She speaks seven languages.· She was part of an equipped dance academy by Stanely Mareka, and has performed at the National Theatre of Namibia, competitions and album launches alongside artists such as the late Roger, The Dogg, Rizzy and more. · She worked in the media industry for about four years and was part of a team that contributed to the growth of the entertainment, fashion and lifestyle show ‘Voigush TV’ that later became ‘Voigush Africa’. · She supports Namibian fashion designers and helped many of them to showcase their work while working as a TV producer and presenter. · She is fascinated with precious stones and crystals and has a private collection that only two people have seen.

Petitioning for protection against rapists

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-15

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Petitioning for protection against rapists

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-15

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