‘Wearing a miniskirt is not a crime’

Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) chief whip Elma Dienda yesterday in parliament said “wearing miniskirts is not a crime” and people need to change their mindset of linking miniskirts with rape.

Dienda was contributing to debate regarding the causes of high crime rates in Namibia, currently ongoing in the National Assembly. The debate was introduced by PDM lawmaker Mike Venaani in September.

Venaani raised the motion for the National Assembly to discuss the causes of the high crime rates in Namibia and seek urgent interventions.

“That the motion be referred to a relevant parliamentary standing committee to propose recommendations to this august house after conducting diligent work on the subject matter,” reads the outcome for the motion.

Dienda told the National Assembly the high crime rate needs to be addressed through a mindset change.

“Our girls cannot even wear miniskirts these days, then they are being raped. It is not a crime to wear a miniskirt. Our mindset is not right. This needs to be addressed,” she said.

Discussions around women’s clothes have been controversial since former police chief and newly appointed Ohangwena governor Sebastian Ndeitunga in 2013 threatened to arrest women found wearing “short and revealing” miniskirts.

This was reported in The Namibian at the time, although Ndeitunga later asserted that he was misquoted. Dienda emphasised that children, girls and women are the biggest victims of these crimes in Namibia.

“High crime rates are a national issue and, therefore, needs to be addressed with a national mindset,” she said.

The Namibian Police, between 2021 and 2022, reported 98 640 criminal cases, she added.

NO IMPLEMENTATION

Since 2014, government offices, ministries and agencies (OMAs) have not implemented the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) held under the theme, ‘Unifying Action Against Gender-Based Violence in Namibia’.

This was revealed by deputy gender minister Bernadette Jagger on Monday, while she also contributed to the motion.

“All lead OMAs were expected to have done what was recommended to their institution since 2014 to date. But, it has regrettably been noted that many institutions have failed to heed these recommendations,” she said.

The lead agencies were the ministries of justice, gender, safety and security, trade, health, information, education, regional and local government (now urban and rural development), as well as youth.

Others were the Law Reform and Development Commission along with the Office of the Prime Minister.

“After the conference, recommendations were drafted and approved by the Cabinet. All representatives were urged to cost and make budgetary provisions for the implementation of their activities as per the recommendations,” Jagger said.

The non-compliance of their fellow offices, the minister said, left her ministry to carry the mantle.

“Compelling the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare to hold the fort and run with its recommendations, because of the desire to see change and have a peaceful nation,” she added.

The Ministry of Justice last year introduced amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act, Combating of Domestic Violence Act and the Combating of Rape Act. These were some of the recommendations.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services, along with development partners, crafted a clinical handbook for the healthcare of women subjected to intimate partner violence and/or sexual violence.

The safety and security ministry, which has now been merged with the home affairs portfolio, was also told to improve procedures when dealing with GBV cases. They were also told to create a database of protection orders issued, among others.

The Namibian Police, however, still faces criticism around the handling of GBV cases.

Moreover, Jagger echoed Dienda’s sentiments, saying Namibians need a mindset change. She reasoned that the laws are already in place.

“The laws and policies the country has in place to address various crimes are commendable, but a mindset of moving from a rhetoric approach to action should be instilled in all people, especially those implementing the law and those in decision making positions, to ensure that laws are applied in a manner that effectively makes impact,” Jagger said.

Parliament sessions are broadcasted daily on its Facebook platform.