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06:49Last update on: 13 Aug 2013
The Namibian
Tue 13 Aug 2013
SMS Of The Day * MINISTRY of Gender and Child Welfare, TEARS are rolling down as I write this SMS. The killing of women in Namibia is now like reciting a poem. Are we really getting the protection we deserve while women not being treated as part of this c Food For Thought * SO the Zimbabwe elections were free and peaceful and not free and fair? Bouquets And Brickbats * NURSES at Katutura Hospital must stop wearing those big plastic sandals at work because they are not the official working shoes. We want to see you looking smart and beautiful with your full uniform. SMS Of The Day * THIS nation is in dire need of a massive conference on housing. When we experienced a crisis in the education sector a crisis-control brain-storming conference was organised which resulted in the best deal ever for the Namibian child, nam Food For Thought * BOURGEOISIE has become a daily occupation if not the order of the day of the upper-echelons, President Hifikepunye Pohamba we urge you to revisit this unpatriotic geocentricism among your staff and the well-connected, for everybody to r Bouquets And Brickbats * COMMISSIONER of Prisons, can you please explain the strategies you use to appoint officers to certain positions? It is my observation that you are being fed with wrong information then you just promote individuals without making p SMS Of The Day * I THINK Paulus ‘The Rock’ Ambunda lost his belt because of this promoter and trainer. How can a world champion still be training at the Katutura Youth Complex where there is not enough equipment. I think they must follow the example of Ha Food For Thought * NAMIBIA Dairies are unable to match low prices of imported milk and this ultimately means the consumer will have to pay more for local milk. Look at the prices of the local chicken. All these profits are going in the pockets of a few in Bouquets And Brickbats * I AM pleased to hear that Cabinet has responded positively to the proposal of Namibia Dairies to support the industry. The restrictions which support the industry by reducing competition to ensure the survival of the industry is a SMS Of The Day * CEO’s golden handshakes. Somewhere on our statute books there must be a provision that if a board of directors suspends/dismisses a CEO without due regard to legal provision (substantive/procedural law) such board must carry the costs for Food For Thought * JACKY Asheeke was so right with her last column- why are the fathers of the dead children not being prosecuted? (Reference to the children who died in shack fires last week) Our justice system still protects men over women. In this cont Bouquets And Brickbats * ALEXACTUS Kaure, your column in Friday’s newspaper opened my eyes. One hardly finds impartial case study analysers in Namibia. Let’s not destroy the Polytechnic’s strong foundation (Tjivikua) as yet. At least wait until the transf
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NEWS - NAMIBIA | 2013-07-22
Toni Hancox
LAC battles funding cuts
Ndanki Kahiurika
THE Legal Assistance Centre (LAC), which recently celebrated 25 years of existence, has phased out some of its projects and retrenched staff members due to depleting funds.
The non-governmental organisation had to shut down its Child Witness Protection Programme, retrenching some of the staff members in the process, Toni Hancox, Director of LAC told The Namibian.
The Child Witness Support Programme will now become the government’s responsibility as the centre does not have enough funds to maintain it, Hancox said.
In addition, the Advice Office in Keetmanshoop was closed down in 2009. The last regional legal education satellite offices were closed in 2005.
Hancox said they fear they will eventually close down the entire organisation should funds continue to deplete at the rapid pace as had happened recently.
“We wonder how long we can continue to provide services that are so vitally needed,” Hancox said.
The centre’s wellspring is composed of the European Union, United Nations and other governmental agencies who provide the centre’s main funds.
Hancox believes that donors have reduced their funding as a result of the World Bank’s classification of Namibia as an upper middle-income country, back in 2011.
“Insufficient funds will mean that we have to scale down the centre’s important activities and narrow its focus on specific areas of intervention,” she added.
The centre, which employs over 30 people, has been at the forefront in the fight for human rights, against gender violence and democracy since its set up in 1988.
These includes the centre’s five units namely Gender, Research and Advocacy Project, Land, Environment and Development Unit, Human Rights and Constitutional Unit with AIDS Law Unit in addition to the Namibia Law Report.
Aside from this, the centre’s other concern is personal resources. Hancox said that people are aware of the instability that comes with working for an NGO but the volatility of funding deters people from committing to their jobs.
“Stability is extremely important for the security and growth of a business,” she said.
Hancox voiced her concern about the pace at which government, civil society and private sector are trying to bring change as they are reportedly not creating significant change at present.
In this light the centre’s vital services are needed to fill in the gap by continuing implementation of projects that would lead to the development of the community.
“At this point the socio-economic status of Namibia encompasses persisting widespread poverty,” said Hancox adding that the centre is not only for the benefit of the marginalised and poor communities but is for the benefit of all in society.
The Child Witness Support Programme will now become the government’s responsibility as the centre does not have enough funds to maintain it, Hancox said.
In addition, the Advice Office in Keetmanshoop was closed down in 2009. The last regional legal education satellite offices were closed in 2005.
Hancox said they fear they will eventually close down the entire organisation should funds continue to deplete at the rapid pace as had happened recently.
“We wonder how long we can continue to provide services that are so vitally needed,” Hancox said.
The centre’s wellspring is composed of the European Union, United Nations and other governmental agencies who provide the centre’s main funds.
Hancox believes that donors have reduced their funding as a result of the World Bank’s classification of Namibia as an upper middle-income country, back in 2011.
“Insufficient funds will mean that we have to scale down the centre’s important activities and narrow its focus on specific areas of intervention,” she added.
The centre, which employs over 30 people, has been at the forefront in the fight for human rights, against gender violence and democracy since its set up in 1988.
These includes the centre’s five units namely Gender, Research and Advocacy Project, Land, Environment and Development Unit, Human Rights and Constitutional Unit with AIDS Law Unit in addition to the Namibia Law Report.
Aside from this, the centre’s other concern is personal resources. Hancox said that people are aware of the instability that comes with working for an NGO but the volatility of funding deters people from committing to their jobs.
“Stability is extremely important for the security and growth of a business,” she said.
Hancox voiced her concern about the pace at which government, civil society and private sector are trying to bring change as they are reportedly not creating significant change at present.
In this light the centre’s vital services are needed to fill in the gap by continuing implementation of projects that would lead to the development of the community.
“At this point the socio-economic status of Namibia encompasses persisting widespread poverty,” said Hancox adding that the centre is not only for the benefit of the marginalised and poor communities but is for the benefit of all in society.
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In this light the centre’s vital services are needed to fill in the gap by continuing implementation of projects that would lead to the development of the community. - See more at: http://www.namibian.com.na/indexx.php?id=1582&page_type=story_detail#sthash.Wwonqhdc.dpuf - Brooke Anstey
Total article comments: 1
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