February 23, 2005 - (Windhoek) Namibia is enveloped in a litany of violence by way of an undeclared war daily being waged against innocent women and children, something that has become a norm rather than an exception. With these words Rosa Namises of the Congress of Democrats yesterday motivated her party's motion on Violence Against Women and Children in the National Assembly.

"So far women and children of this country have had a traumatic year. They have to fear violence from judges, pastors, teachers, mayors and many whom we in the past have thought of as guardians of what is good and proper in our society," Namises said.

According to her the country needs action to stop and stem the gulf of violence which has enveloped it before it's too late.

"Women expected to become equal partners to men after independence, but this did not happen. Instead we have a daily war being waged against us and our children through rape, brutal killings and public beatings by the very same men that they love and live with," Namises argued.

She further ascribed the violence to a widespread belief that gender-based violence does not deserve the same seriousness as other criminal offences.

"Violence against women is deliberately trivialised because society, especially men, fear giving women the power and control they should by right have. Such violence is still regarded by some as a private rather than a public issue. Yet, international research has shown that a society with high levels of male-on-male violence, also shows high levels of violence against women and children," Namises, who suggested the country redouble its efforts to improve the situation, said.

"We need a strengthening of the rights culture in this country, the understanding that rights are not divisible, they apply equally to everyone at all times and that all citizens are entitled to protection and equal treatment in terms of those rights," said Namises, who made the following recommendations:

- that research be done to find out how violence becomes an integral part of manhood in so many boys and girls in the country;

- -that serious efforts be made to transform the oppressive gender regime;

- -that funds be allocated for the proper implementation of Acts against violence and the protection of rights;

- -to mobilize the whole nation to become involved in the eradication of violence.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200502230722.html