Almost 1 000 rapes a year reported

A TOTAL of 1 904 rape cases were reported to the Police countrywide during the past two years, says Commissioner of Police Trephine Kamati.

Addressing a meeting at Oshakati on Friday, Kamati said that in 2006, 956 rape cases were reported. Most of these – 183 – were reported in the Khomas Region, followed by Oshana (122) and Ohangwena (93).Last year 948 rape cases were reported, with Khomas again in the lead with 198 cases, followed by Ohangwena with 99 cases and Oshana with 92 cases.The four-day meeting, sponsored by Unicef, was attended by officials of the Ministry of Safety and Security, including Police commanders and officers from the Police’s Woman and Child Protection Unit, and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare.Kamati said there might be many other cases that went unreported because the victims felt shame or feared stigmatisation.Many complainants also withdraw charges laid with the Police because of pressure from boyfriends, husbands and family members, she said.She said domestic violence was also the order of the day in Namibia and it was necessary to assess the latest strategies in combating domestic violence.”I am pleased to place on record that the Namibian Police will play its role in helping the survivors of domestic violence to rebuild their shattered lives with professional assistance, and I am the same time standing firm to the Police’s commitment in dealing with this issue of domestic crime head on,” Commissioner Kamati said.”Silence has surrounded domestic violence for too long, because there was a time that complainants and witnesses were ashamed to talk about it, and I am pleased to report that our collective efforts are painting a different picture today.”Also addressing the meeting, Unicef Country Representative Mandhavi Ashok appealed to all stakeholders to do their best in combating domestic violence.She also called on men to refrain from violating women’s and children’s rights.When he officially opened the meeting, Oshana Governor Clemence Kashuupulwa urged women not to stay at cuca shops till late and then walk home alone, because that made them vulnerable to rapists.Most of these – 183 – were reported in the Khomas Region, followed by Oshana (122) and Ohangwena (93).Last year 948 rape cases were reported, with Khomas again in the lead with 198 cases, followed by Ohangwena with 99 cases and Oshana with 92 cases.The four-day meeting, sponsored by Unicef, was attended by officials of the Ministry of Safety and Security, including Police commanders and officers from the Police’s Woman and Child Protection Unit, and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare.Kamati said there might be many other cases that went unreported because the victims felt shame or feared stigmatisation.Many complainants also withdraw charges laid with the Police because of pressure from boyfriends, husbands and family members, she said.She said domestic violence was also the order of the day in Namibia and it was necessary to assess the latest strategies in combating domestic violence.”I am pleased to place on record that the Namibian Police will play its role in helping the survivors of domestic violence to rebuild their shattered lives with professional assistance, and I am the same time standing firm to the Police’s commitment in dealing with this issue of domestic crime head on,” Commissioner Kamati said.”Silence has surrounded domestic violence for too long, because there was a time that complainants and witnesses were ashamed to talk about it, and I am pleased to report that our collective efforts are painting a different picture today.”Also addressing the meeting, Unicef Country Representative Mandhavi Ashok appealed to all stakeholders to do their best in combating domestic violence.She also called on men to refrain from violating women’s and children’s rights.When he officially opened the meeting, Oshana Governor Clemence Kashuupulwa urged women not to stay at cuca shops till late and then walk home alone, because that made them vulnerable to rapists.