Ombudsman takes rights campaign to the South

OMBUDSMAN John Walters has encouraged victims of domestic violence “to end the silence”.

“Know your rights, claim your rights and use your rights,” he advised, addressing a handful of people at Keetmanshoop earlier this week. The Ombudsman informed community members about their right to apply for a protection order from any local magistrate when experiencing domestic violence.Walters said that in reality some laws served no purpose in some areas.Protection orders, for example, could only be issued by a magistrate, which means that people living in rural areas had to travel long distances to towns to find a magistrate to issue a protection order.Walters said domestic violence knew no boundaries in terms of age, race, gender or social background.The Ombudsman also took a swipe at the country’s courts, saying they were not victim and child friendly.Walters is on a visit to the Karas and Hardap regions to advocate against gender violence and promote respect for human rights.”The visit is an eye-opener for the ombudsman on how to address certain issues,” he said.Walters also visited health facilities in the Karas Region.Overall, he was delighted with the hygienic standards maintained, but expressed concern over a lack of ambulances at some hospitals and clinics.”I will definitely address the ambulance crisis experience in the region as matter of urgency,” he said.The Keetmanshoop State Hospital, the second biggest in the country, has been without an ambulance for two months.The Ombudsman informed community members about their right to apply for a protection order from any local magistrate when experiencing domestic violence.Walters said that in reality some laws served no purpose in some areas.Protection orders, for example, could only be issued by a magistrate, which means that people living in rural areas had to travel long distances to towns to find a magistrate to issue a protection order.Walters said domestic violence knew no boundaries in terms of age, race, gender or social background.The Ombudsman also took a swipe at the country’s courts, saying they were not victim and child friendly.Walters is on a visit to the Karas and Hardap regions to advocate against gender violence and promote respect for human rights.”The visit is an eye-opener for the ombudsman on how to address certain issues,” he said.Walters also visited health facilities in the Karas Region.Overall, he was delighted with the hygienic standards maintained, but expressed concern over a lack of ambulances at some hospitals and clinics.”I will definitely address the ambulance crisis experience in the region as matter of urgency,” he said.The Keetmanshoop State Hospital, the second biggest in the country, has been without an ambulance for two months.