COD WOMEN MILITATE FOR POLICE ACTION ON VIOLENCE
By Christof Maletsky

August 19, 2004 - (The Namibian) The women of the Congress of Democrats (CoD) have expressed reservations about the impact that legislation such as the Domestic Violence Act, Anti-rape Act as well as the Married Persons Equality Act will have on society.

Secretary General of the Women Democrats, Elma Dienda, issued a statement this week to condemn the recent killings of two women in Windhoek and Swakopmund, the alleged abuse of girls at a Narraville school at Walvis Bay as well as the alleged abuse of girl by a Catholic priest.

Dienda said they were taken aback and saddened by the upsurge of senseless and criminal violence against women and children.

She said it was clear from the recent attacks and abuses that despite the enactment of laws which were meant to address the "underdog status of women", society was still behaving as if their lives were expendable.

On Friday, 44-year-old Alexandra Mooren was gunned down while walking along the Swakopmund beach in broad daylight.

Dienda said communities should not allow their neighbourhoods to be taken over by criminals.

"But, as communities, we can only do so much because, at the end of the day, the Government is responsible for the protection of the lives and property of citizens and visitors," the statement said.

The Women Democrats called on the City of Windhoek to proceed with the establishment of the City Police.

"We must not and cannot remain prisoners in our homes. The criminals must know that the full wrath of the law will be visited upon them," Dienda said.

As mothers, the Women Democrats said, they were shocked that society was increasingly becoming uncertain about whether to trust teachers, pastors and other adults with children.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200408190313.html