By:Josephine Mbanze
Ongwediva mayor Taarah Shalyefu says acts of gender-based violence (GBV) are caused by intoxicating substances.
He was speaking at the National Men’s Conference being hosted by the gender ministry in Ongwediva.
The conference is being held under the theme, ‘Galvanising positive masculinity to end the scourge of violence in Namibia’ and will conclude on 26 November.
The purpose of the conference is to encourage men to take a stand against gender violence and to promote gender equality among other things. The conference is hosted in collaboration with the Nationhood and National Pride program.
He expressed that the conference has come at the right time when the country is experiencing a surge in GBV cases.
Shalyefu said GBV can have a direct connection to economic factors.
“This conference would be a befitting platform to interrogate the causes of gender-based violence among our people and perhaps propose solutions to end this social evil. We read and hear sad news all the time. Some of these reports would make one think deep but without convincing conclusions,” said Shalyefu.
According to statistics, one in every three women will be subjected to sexual or physical violence during their lifetime and the threat of gender violence for both women and men, girls and boys increase significantly during displacement and times of crisis.
Speaking at the same event, Pastor Junais Ndeutapo questioned what went wrong with men, as according to him, their responsibility is to protect, manage and take care of women.
“The gatherings purpose and main aim are to reposition men and to go back to and continue to protect and care for the land so that peace and harmony prevail in our country,” he said.
Also speaking at the men’s conference on behalf of the deputy minister of marginalized communities, Adolf Uunona Ompundja Constituency councilor said violence perpetrated against children has a long life effect on them.
“Most sexual and domestic violence is perpetrated by men meanwhile 85 percent of domestic violence survivors are women and 93 percent of the perpetrators of intimate partners are men,” he revealed.
Uunona stated that the conference will help Namibia address gender based-violence in communities.