Africa-Press – Namibia. Erongo regional police commander commissioner Nikolaus Kupembona says the police continue to receive reports of digital violations and are strengthening investigative capacity while working with telecom companies to trace perpetrators.
He made the remarks at the Human Rights Day and Namibian Women’s Day observance at Uis on Wednesday.
Kupembona said digital violations including harassment, impersonation, cyberstalking, non-consensual sharing of intimate images and social media manipulation, are on the rise and have become a pressing human rights concern, particularly for young girls.
“Digital violence is real, and it destroys reputations, undermines mental health, breaks families and in some cases pushes victims toward self-harm,” he stated.
He noted that law enforcement efforts rely on legislation such as the Domestic Violence Act and the Child Care and Protection Act, but emphasised that policing alone cannot stop digital violence.
It thrives where communities remain silent, he said.
Kupembona thus urged parents to monitor their children’s online activities and encouraged community members to report incidents without delay.
Erongo governor Natalia |Goagoses in her remarks said the danger of online exploitation is rapidly escalating.
Citing United Nations Children’s Fund figures, |Goagoses noted that nearly one in 10 Namibian children with internet access has experienced some form of online exploitation.
“This is a frightening figure. The government has responded through initiatives such as the National Child Online Protection Task Force, awareness campaigns in communities, and digital safety programmes in schools,” she said.
However, the government alone cannot succeed, she noted.
The governor called for stronger collaboration between civil society, traditional authorities, families, churches and community structures to reinforce protection against digital abuse.
She also urged leaders to ensure that laws and policies, including the Combating of Domestic Violence (Amendment) Act of 2022 and the National Gender Equality, Equity and Equality Policy, are communicated and understood at the grassroots level.
“Ending gender-based and digital violence requires discipline, compassion and responsibility. Silence must never protect perpetrators,” she added.
The chief complaints investigator at the Office of the Ombudsman, Hermina Apollus, stressed that digital abuse violates fundamental rights protected by the Namibian Constitution and international human rights instruments, including the rights to privacy, dignity, safety, equality and freedom of expression.
– Nampa
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