Parliamentarians get to grips with abuse

CASES of woman and child abuse are on the increase in Namibia and something needs to be done urgently to improve the situation, says Unicef’s representative in Namibia.

Khin-Sandi Lwin told a conference in Windhoek yesterday that the number of reported rape cases had risen to 894 in 2003 from 698 in 2000, representing an increase of almost 30 per cent. “And we know that many more do not get reported out of fear or misplaced sense of guilt,” said Lwin.She said 40 per cent of reported cases of sexual violence were against children, while women were the victims in 86 per cent of domestic violence cases.Lwin said leaders, the church and society itself should regard this problem as one that needed priority attention.”It starts with addressing the underlying issues of gender inequalities and alcohol abuse.It starts with each of us in this hall,” she said.Lwin was speaking at a two-day national conference on women and child protection.With the theme ‘Speak Out Against Abuse’, the aim of the conference is to sensitise parliamentarians and other decision-makers on issues related to violence against women and children.Safety and Security Deputy Minister Gabes Shihepo, who opened the conference, also emphasised that the country was experiencing a wave of violence, especially directed at women and children.”It is disheartening to note that, in most cases, such horrendous criminal activities are committed by men who are strong and, in some cases, even related to the victims,” said Shihepo.”Such crimes are a cancer that require proper diagnosis, if we are to cure it,” Shihepo told the conference.The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Tuweefeni M’lukeni, said the Police were doing their best to attend to cases of woman and child abuse, but limited resources were hampering their work.M’lukeni urged people to report all cases of woman and child abuse.He said some people regarded such cases as family affairs and did not report them.”And we know that many more do not get reported out of fear or misplaced sense of guilt,” said Lwin.She said 40 per cent of reported cases of sexual violence were against children, while women were the victims in 86 per cent of domestic violence cases.Lwin said leaders, the church and society itself should regard this problem as one that needed priority attention.”It starts with addressing the underlying issues of gender inequalities and alcohol abuse.It starts with each of us in this hall,” she said.Lwin was speaking at a two-day national conference on women and child protection.With the theme ‘Speak Out Against Abuse’, the aim of the conference is to sensitise parliamentarians and other decision-makers on issues related to violence against women and children.Safety and Security Deputy Minister Gabes Shihepo, who opened the conference, also emphasised that the country was experiencing a wave of violence, especially directed at women and children.”It is disheartening to note that, in most cases, such horrendous criminal activities are committed by men who are strong and, in some cases, even related to the victims,” said Shihepo.”Such crimes are a cancer that require proper diagnosis, if we are to cure it,” Shihepo told the conference.The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Tuweefeni M’lukeni, said the Police were doing their best to attend to cases of woman and child abuse, but limited resources were hampering their work.M’lukeni urged people to report all cases of woman and child abuse.He said some people regarded such cases as family affairs and did not report them.