Namibia: Hardap the Springboard for Women Activism

November 19, 2007 – (AllAfrica) Following a series of notorious murders of women by the highly elusive 'B1 Butcher' and with many of the victims coming from the south, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has chosen Hardap for 16 Days of Activism.

This year marks 16 years of the16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) campaign since its inception in 1991. The international campaign officially begins on November 25, which is the International Day on the Elimination of Violence against Women and ends on December 10, which is International Human Rights Day. This is done to highlight the connection between women, violence and human rights.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Sirkka Ausiku, said the event is scheduled for Hardap Region with the aim to raise awareness amongst people so that they become vigilant and pro-active in fighting against such "barbaric and cowardly actions".

"The launch of the 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is aimed at combating violence in the country. This is a national event and people that can travel to Kalkrand are welcome to do so," said the permanent secretary.

She said transport would also be facilitated for women's groups from Windhoek, Rehoboth and Tsumis Park. Ausiku said of late, the country has experienced its worst forms of violence against women involving rape, murder and mutilation of body parts, freezing them and then scattering them all over the country in plastic bags and rubbish bins.

This year's Activism against Gender-Based Violence will be done under the theme, "Demanding Implementation, Challenging Obstacles: Ending Violence Against Women and Children." This has been the quest of the Government, to find a lasting solution to GBV, hence many laws to curb Gender-Based Violence has been passed, notably the Combating of the Rape Act, No. 8 of 2000 and the Combating of Domestic Violence Act, No. 4 of 2003.

Other mechanisms have also been put in place such as the Women and Child Protection Units (WCPU's), the specialised Unit on Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence and Maintenance under the office of the Prosecutor-General in the Ministry of Justice, and various activities by both Government and civil society organisations.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare further, in trying to find solutions to this scourge, organised a National Conference on Gender-Based Violence some time in June this year.

The workshop adopted what is termed "Action-Oriented Recommendations" that if put in place will go a long way in eliminating gender-based violence from. The ministry, also following on the directive by Cabinet, has established a strategic Inter-Ministerial Committee including civil society organisations on domestic violence in general.

Various meetings, especially for traditional leaders, were also held, while the discussions on improving the functioning of the WCPU's are under way. Namibia became part of the campaign in 2004 and has since, in collaboration with various key stakeholders, organised and carried out activities that are aimed at raising awareness of the general public on the negative effects of GBV, especially those that are perpetrated against women and children.

The campaign will also be marked by World Aids Day on December 1, followed by the International Day of People with Disability on December 3 and the anniversary of the Montreal Massacre of 1989 on December 6. The campaign would end with international Human Rights Day on December 10.

From:http://allafrica.com/stories/200711190529.html