Renewed calls to report, end GBV cases
Renewed calls have been made for victims of gender-based violence (GBV) to be empowered to report it, and for coordinated action to stop the crime, which Namibia's attorney-general Albert Kawana says has reached “embarrassing” proportions.
Kawana was speaking in Windhoek last week at the premiere of a documentary that seeks to embolden victims of GBV to report the crime and to encourage criminal justice system officials to handle reported cases with due sensitivity.
Speaking at the same occasion, prosecutor-general Martha Imalwa said one in three women in Namibia was in a violent relationship, but tended to remain quiet about it.
“They don't report the violence,” she said and attributed the phenomenon to lack of faith in the system and fear of reprisals should they be sent back into the same abusive environment.
The documentary was produced with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the office of the prosecutor-general, the justice ministry, the police and social workers within the gender ministry.
The inspector-general of the police, Lieutenant-General Sebastian Ndeitunga, called for all hands on deck in the war against GBV.
“(GBV) leaves many families mourning - robbed of their loved ones who in most cases are in their prime,” Ndeitunga said.
He was optimistic that the documentary, which depicts the good and the ugly of GBV victims' interaction with the criminal justice system, would offer lessons on good practice.
He announced that the police had finalised a Draft National Integrated Crime Combating Strategy and called for a formalised coordinated effort to combat crime.
“It is high time that we as a nation adopt such a strategy. The government alone cannot deal with crime and the ongoing law enforcement and criminal justice responses are inadequate.”
Ndeitunga advocated for more public education on crime.
“Our society is experiencing a higher intensity in violence and brutal crimes with women being subjected to rape, murder and assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.”
He said the police would deploy all of its resources to deal with GBV. Kawana said he was criticised for “interfering in the bedrooms of our citizens” when he motivated a law against GBV in 2003 when he was justice minister but still hoped that judicial intervention would end GBV.
“On the contrary, it is increasing on a daily basis. Following events in our country which are also linked to GBV, I feel embarrassed as a man but I am proud to be part of a collective initiative by our government to address this scourge,” he said.
Noting that the Namibian constitution guarantees equality of all persons and their dignity, Kawana said GBV must be eradicated because it violates victims' fundamental rights.
He said the government had taken steps to address GBV. He gave the example of national conferences, the national days of prayer against GBV, awareness campaigns and capacity building initiatives for stakeholders.
Additionally, President Hage Geingob and First Lady Monica Geingos had spoken against GBV.
“Lately, the judiciary has taken steps to ensure that GBV is addressed and addressed speedily. Stiff sentences are being meted out to discourage would-be perpetrators,” the AG said.
He said giving up was not an option.
He called for victim-friendly courts so that victims can testify in a safe environment.
Turning to the documentary, he said: “It should help us improve services to victims of GBV and to educate members of the public on the dangers of forcing victims to withdraw serious cases. Victims should be educated on the protection available for them within the justice system so that they could not fear to give their testimonies, particularly during trials.”
The UNODC regional representative for southern Africa, Zhuleyz Akisheva, flagged cultural practices such as polygamy and patriarchy that continue to keep women in subordinate social positions while making them vulnerable to GBV.
She cited a survey conducted in 2012 by the Legal Assistance Centre indicating high incidence of inter-personal violence against many women and children in Namibia.
“It seems the situation has not yet improved,” Akisheva said.
She said the documentary highlights many contextual challenges experienced by most victims of GBV. These include structural violence, stigma, harmful patriarchal gender norms, lack of power and a plethora of detrimental customs.
“Some people don't report abuse due to stereotypes, cultural and religious beliefs that say they should not report their husbands for abuse.”
The mock trial depicted in the documentary is a first for Namibia. The actors and actresses are real criminal justice officials who include a magistrate, a prosecutor, police officers and social workers who deal with GBV cases in Namibia.
- Moses Magadza is a communications officer at the UNODC regional office for southern Africa.
MOSES MAGADZA
Kawana was speaking in Windhoek last week at the premiere of a documentary that seeks to embolden victims of GBV to report the crime and to encourage criminal justice system officials to handle reported cases with due sensitivity.
Speaking at the same occasion, prosecutor-general Martha Imalwa said one in three women in Namibia was in a violent relationship, but tended to remain quiet about it.
“They don't report the violence,” she said and attributed the phenomenon to lack of faith in the system and fear of reprisals should they be sent back into the same abusive environment.
The documentary was produced with support from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the office of the prosecutor-general, the justice ministry, the police and social workers within the gender ministry.
The inspector-general of the police, Lieutenant-General Sebastian Ndeitunga, called for all hands on deck in the war against GBV.
“(GBV) leaves many families mourning - robbed of their loved ones who in most cases are in their prime,” Ndeitunga said.
He was optimistic that the documentary, which depicts the good and the ugly of GBV victims' interaction with the criminal justice system, would offer lessons on good practice.
He announced that the police had finalised a Draft National Integrated Crime Combating Strategy and called for a formalised coordinated effort to combat crime.
“It is high time that we as a nation adopt such a strategy. The government alone cannot deal with crime and the ongoing law enforcement and criminal justice responses are inadequate.”
Ndeitunga advocated for more public education on crime.
“Our society is experiencing a higher intensity in violence and brutal crimes with women being subjected to rape, murder and assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.”
He said the police would deploy all of its resources to deal with GBV. Kawana said he was criticised for “interfering in the bedrooms of our citizens” when he motivated a law against GBV in 2003 when he was justice minister but still hoped that judicial intervention would end GBV.
“On the contrary, it is increasing on a daily basis. Following events in our country which are also linked to GBV, I feel embarrassed as a man but I am proud to be part of a collective initiative by our government to address this scourge,” he said.
Noting that the Namibian constitution guarantees equality of all persons and their dignity, Kawana said GBV must be eradicated because it violates victims' fundamental rights.
He said the government had taken steps to address GBV. He gave the example of national conferences, the national days of prayer against GBV, awareness campaigns and capacity building initiatives for stakeholders.
Additionally, President Hage Geingob and First Lady Monica Geingos had spoken against GBV.
“Lately, the judiciary has taken steps to ensure that GBV is addressed and addressed speedily. Stiff sentences are being meted out to discourage would-be perpetrators,” the AG said.
He said giving up was not an option.
He called for victim-friendly courts so that victims can testify in a safe environment.
Turning to the documentary, he said: “It should help us improve services to victims of GBV and to educate members of the public on the dangers of forcing victims to withdraw serious cases. Victims should be educated on the protection available for them within the justice system so that they could not fear to give their testimonies, particularly during trials.”
The UNODC regional representative for southern Africa, Zhuleyz Akisheva, flagged cultural practices such as polygamy and patriarchy that continue to keep women in subordinate social positions while making them vulnerable to GBV.
She cited a survey conducted in 2012 by the Legal Assistance Centre indicating high incidence of inter-personal violence against many women and children in Namibia.
“It seems the situation has not yet improved,” Akisheva said.
She said the documentary highlights many contextual challenges experienced by most victims of GBV. These include structural violence, stigma, harmful patriarchal gender norms, lack of power and a plethora of detrimental customs.
“Some people don't report abuse due to stereotypes, cultural and religious beliefs that say they should not report their husbands for abuse.”
The mock trial depicted in the documentary is a first for Namibia. The actors and actresses are real criminal justice officials who include a magistrate, a prosecutor, police officers and social workers who deal with GBV cases in Namibia.
- Moses Magadza is a communications officer at the UNODC regional office for southern Africa.
MOSES MAGADZA
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