President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says protection orders issued under the Combating of Domestic Violence Act must be served within 24 hours, without exception.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said this at Independence Arena in Katutura, Windhoek, during the National Prayer Day against Gender-Based Violence and Gruesome Killings on Saturday.
“Protection orders under the Combating of Domestic Violence Act [are] to be served within 24 hours, without exception,” she said.
She said the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations is reviewing how the Combating of Domestic Violence Act and the Combating of Rape Act are applied in practice.
The review will address repeat offenders, chronic delays and gaps that leave survivors unprotected, she said.
“Where the law itself must change, proposals will be made,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
She also announced that the minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security, together with the inspector-general of the Namibian Police, is conducting a full assessment of every Gender-Based Violence Protection Unit in the country.
The assessment covers staffing, training, transport, communication systems, case tracking and the reach of the units to survivors.
“[For] every shortcoming identified efforts will be made to correct them,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
