#ShutItAllDown
Earlier this year, the Namibian Police Force reported that during the 18 months ended June 2020, one thousand six hundred and four rape cases were reported. Translated, these statistics paint the horrifying image that for 540 days between January 2019 and June 2020, three rape cases were reported to the Police every day.
In 2019 September, the Gender-based Violence Protection Unit in Windhoek reported that between September 2019 and December 2018, it received, on average, two hundred cases of domestic violence per month. Again, translated, these statistics paint the horrifying image that for about 300 days, the Gender-based Violence Protection Unit in Windhoek received about sixty-six domestic violence cases per day.
These horrifying statistics join stories which have, in the past, left Namibians speechless. They join the story of Viola Swartbooi who was found buried naked in a shallow grave in 2005. They join the story of Sanna //Garoes, whose body was found in a rubbish bin next to the B1 road in 2005; dissected into two. They join the story of Melanie Janse, whose body was found lying naked next to the Western Bypass in 2005. They join the story of Juanita Mabula, whose head was found lying next to the B1 road in 2005; decapitated. They join the story of Magdalena Stoffels, whose body was found with her throat slit in 2010. They join the story of Mirjam Nandjato, who was found dead and nearly decapitated in 2014. The story of Issabella Tjizu Kahorere who was mutilated, stabbed and shot in 2014. The story of Annalise Ndakongele who was knifed to death in March 2015. Of Marlene Gatonje, murdered with a stone in 2015. Cheryl Ujaha, whose mutilated body was found dumped in bushes in 2018. Ndihole-Omwene Joleinge, who was slit by the throat in 2018. Rejoice Shovaleka, stabbed to death while walking home in 2020. The story of Shannon Wasserfall who was reported missing in April 2020, and has still not been confirmed to be found. They join the many other untold stories of violence against women and children. Women and children who, just like you and me, had hopes and dreams for themselves, for their families, for their communities.
There is, therefore, no denying: Namibia faces a sexual and gendered violence crisis.
There is also no denying the amount of collective trauma carried by, especially, women who live in Namibia, and the fear that such trauma invites. It is evident from the popular hashtags such as, “#AmINext” and others, protests such as the one held earlier this year, as well as the constant conversations on, especially, social media, in which Namibian women express their fear and concern.
Painfully, however, these concerns and the crisis of SGBV seem to not receive the attention that they deserve: there is an apparent lax attitude displayed by Namibian law enforcement and central government in creating safer communities for women and children.
Namibia continues to struggle with unpatrolled neighborhoods, despite these neighborhoods not being safe for women and despite evidence of the security apparatus possessing the means to patrol them.
Namibia continues to struggle with unresolved crimes, especially where they relate to women and children. In many cases, testimonies from survivors even illustrate a nonchalant attitude from law enforcement officers.
Namibia continues to struggle with the silencing of rape and sexual assault at schools and on campuses and an uncomfortable inability of disciplinary bodies to respond to sexual assault and rape allegations.
Namibia continues to allow the withdrawal of SGBV cases, even in instances where abuse is clear and where power dynamics may be responsible for such withdrawals.
Namibia continues to continue as normal; as though there is no femicide and SGBV crisis at the peak of its manifestation.
We say, no more.
From Thursday, 08 October 2020 at 10h00, as concerned, afraid and traumatized citizens, we will hold several protests meant to disrupt processes in the country until the following demands to the following bodies and institutions are met:
THE PRESIDENCY
1. A declaration of a State of Emergency in respect of Femicide and Sexual and Gendered Violence; and
2. Extensive, immediate and transparent consultation with SGBV experts on best and immediate and radical courses of action to curb violence against women and children.
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
1. Prioritise a sexual offenders registry and make it available to critical and interested bodies, particularly those working with women and children;
2. Prioritise the establishment of sexual offences courts in order to expertly, effectively and, most importantly, sensitively deal with SGBV cases;
3. Prioritise the urgent review of sentencing laws for sex offenders and murderers, particularly pertaining to bail, suspension of sentences and severity in order to emphasize Namibia’s intolerance of SGBV;
4. Prioritise the immediate expedition of all current murder and sexual offences cases in trial or under investigation;
5. Prioritise and immediately review current prisoners in the correctional services system and separate known repeat-offenders, sex offenders and murderers from other criminals in order to improve the rehabilitation rate of those convicted for minor crimes; and
6. Prioritise and immediately revoke the bail of current trial awaiting persons who are accused of sex offences or murder.
NAMIBIAN POLICE FORCE
1. Immediately institute 24/7 armed patrols around all neighborhoods;
2. Immediately disallow the withdrawal of cases lodged in respect of the Combating of Rape Act as well as the Domestic Violence Act; and
3. Prioritise the urgent retraining and re-organising of the Police Force in order to strengthen the capacity of the Force to respond to SGBV reports and allegations.
MINISTRY OF BASIC EDUCATION, ARTS AND CULTURE
1. Immediately mandate the curriculum development and implementation of a national rape and sexual violence prevention programme in schools for implementation in 2021;
2. Immediately liaise with Civil Society Organisations and SGBV experts to provide training to ALL teachers in respect of SGBV;
3. Immediately mandate the review of all school rules, particularly those which promote slut shaming and victim blaming, and ensure that no learner is suspended from school for speaking out against SGBV; and
4. Immediately mandate the review of ALL teachers under the employment of the Ministry and release any teacher in employment who (a) has had sexual relationships with learners or (b) has been charged with a sexual crime.
NAMIBIAN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING
1. Immediately mandate the review of all lecturers and other staff under employment and release any staff member who (a) has had sexual relationships with students in which circumstances can be deemed exploitative or (b) has been charged with a sexual crime;
2. Immediately mandate the review of institutional codes of conduct to coherently address SGBV among students and on campuses;
3. Immediately mandate the review of disciplinary processes in respect of dealing with cases of SGBV;
4. Immediately mandate the review of past disciplinary actions taken to address SGBV among students and on campuses to ensure that such actions were appropriate, particularly in severity;
5. Immediately mandate the review of all members of Student Representative Councils and facilitate sensitivity training in respect of SGBV and the prevention thereof; and
6. Immediately mandate the issuance of practical, substantive positions on SGBV, particularly outlining strategic approaches to addressing and preventing SGBV on campuses.
MINISTRY OF GENDER EQUALITY, POVERTY ERADICATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE
THE PRIVATE SECTOR OF NAMIBIA
Until substantive action is taken to address the violence perpetrated against women and children in Namibia, we will not be silent, and we will continue to #ShutItAllDown.
SIGNED