Africa-Press – Namibia. Newly-appointed Ohangwena regional governor Sebastian Ndeitunga has called on Namibians to unite in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).
He made this call during the launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign at Ohaingu village in the Ohangwena region recently.
The campaign is a global movement aimed at combatting GBV and promoting gender equality.
Ndeitunga said Namibians, especially the youth, should seek amicable ways of resolving problems to prevent gender-based violence.
“Almost every household has its difficulties. Therefore, resolving problems and misunderstandings amicably is very important. To the youth, if your partner decides to end a relationship, kindly part ways peacefully and look for someone else rather than killing each other,” he advised.
Equally significant was his call for GBV victims to seek help, and an end to stigma towards male victims of GBV.
The former police boss thus advised officers to handle such cases with sensitivity and professionalism.
“Let us unite in the fight against GBV, and let peace reign amongst our families, communities and the whole nation at large. We can only effectively fight GBV if we are united,” stressed Ndeitunga.
Statistics provided by Ohangwena regional commander Ottilie Kashuupulwa show that reported GBV cases in this region amounted to 621 from December 2022 to October 2023. Furthermore, 384 individuals have been arrested in the region for GBV-related offences.
She highlighted that despite laws in place to combat GBV, the latter still poses serious threats in society, thus calling for joint efforts to end GBV.
“Factors such as shying away from reporting GBV cases and protecting abusers still hinder the process of combating GBV in our region. The Ohangwena region is not a haven for GBV, and every resident of this region should therefore play a part in the fight against it,” Kashuupulwa proposed.
This year’s campaign is being observed under the theme “Unite! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women.”
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