Addressing

Gender-Based Violence
through Community
Empowerment

Gender Research & Advocacy Project

LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTRE
Windhoek, Namibia, 2008


Acknowledgements

The Legal Assistance Centre would like to acknowledge and thank the following people for their significant
contributions to this booklet:

Project management: Rachel Coomer, GR&AP Public Outreach Officer

Project overview: Dianne Hubbard, GR&AP Coordinator
Contributions: Julie Holt, a legal intern from Yale Law School
Layout of English version: Perri Caplan
Illustrations: Nicky Marais
Printing: John Meinert Printers

Funded by the Embassy of the French Republic

© Legal Assistance Centre, 2008

4 Körner Street, Windhoek

P.O. Box 604, Windhoek, Namibia
Tel: 264-061-223356
Fax: 264-061-234953
Email: info@lac.org.na
Website: www.lac.org.na

An Adobe Acrobat (pdf) version of this publication is posted on the LAC website.

ISBN 978-99945-61-29-2

ii
Contents

Introduction ..............................................................................................................1

What is gender-based violence and why is it a problem?.........3

Domestic Violence . .................................................................................................5

Rape .................................................................................................................................. 10

Married Equality....................................................................................................14

Parent-child Relationships........................................................................... 18

Abuse of the Elderly............................................................................................ 22

Alcohol ........................................................................................................................ 24

Witchcraft.................................................................................................................. 26

Empowering communities to take a stand against

gender-based violence .................................................................................... 28

iii
iv
Introduction

Imagine a room full of people talking. You walk into the room and try
to make yourself heard above the noise, but nobody can hear you.

This image describes the debate about gender-based violence in Namibia. There is a lot of “noise” about
the topic, everyone is talking, but what is being heard? Everyone can tell a tale about a case of gender-
based violence, everyone has reasons for why they think it occurs, but the violence is not being reduced.
This suggests that the true problems and causes have not been sufficiently identified and addressed.

In 2008, the Gender Research and Advocacy Project at the Legal Assistance Centre conducted workshops
across the 13 regions of Namibia in an attempt to identify some of the root causes of gender-based violence.
The aim of the workshops was to get past the deafening and often misleading noise about gender-based
violence to discover the real situation and help communities identify preventative actions which they could
implement, based on their understanding of the underlying issues in their community.

Both men and women were invited to the meetings because both sexes must work together if a solution
to gender-based violence is to be achieved. Focusing only on women would reinforce the stereotype that
men do not have a responsibility to help fight gender-based violence. In reality, men and women must work
together to achieve real and sustainable change in Namibia.

Namibia has some strong laws that address gender-based violence. However, they are just words on paper
unless people believe in the laws and put them into practice. Local knowledge and a desire for change at
the community level are vital if a reduction in gender-based violence is to be achieved. By working with
communities, the Legal Assistance Centre has tried to create living law, to turn what is written down on
paper into something that is relevant to communities.

Who is this
Why read this publication?
publication for?
What can one person do to fight
This publication has been written gender-based violence?
for the community members who
attended workshops held by the “It is easy to think, ‘But I am just a drop in the bucket’.
Gender Research and Advocacy Yet in a desert country like Namibia, people know well
Project during 2008. It is a record how valuable each drop is and understand that when the
of the information discussed and drops are added together, this land becomes productive
and beautiful, giving everyone hope for the future.”
the ideas generated. It is also aimed
at community members who were Lucy Y Steinitz and Diane Ashton, Unravelling Taboos, pg 230
not able to attend the workshops
but who are interested in learning Reducing the level of gender-based violence in Namibia might seem
more about gender-based violence an impossible task. But it is an achievable goal. The place to start
and how gender-based violence can is close to home, with ourselves, our partners, our children, friends
and work colleagues. Start a conversation about gender-based
be tackled. We would welcome
violence with someone you work with, bring it up with members of
feed­back and reports of results your church. Talking about the issue is the first step to addressing it –
from communities who decide although of course we must never become distracted by just talking,
to tackle gender-based violence talking, talking so that we fail to take action. Reading this publication
after reading this publication. is the first step towards change.


How the meetings were run
The aim of the workshops was to discuss the level of
gender-based violence in each community visited
and to help the participants identify solutions
or actions to address some of these problems.
During each workshop, the groups were asked to
choose one or two topics from the list below to
discuss:

(1) domestic violence;

(2) rape;
(3) parent-child relationships;
(4) abuse of the elderly;
(5) alcohol abuse; and
(6) witchcraft.

To help the participants choose which topics were

relevant to their community, newspaper articles
and illustrations were used to show examples of
some of the problems. The participants were able
to look at the examples and see whether such
things happened in their community. Some of
the illustrations used have been included in this
booklet. Every topic in this publication includes
questions for discussion to help you apply the
information to your own community. You might
want to think about these issues by yourself or you
might want to use them to stimulate discussion
with a group of people.

Key to this book

Colour-coded information boxes are included throughout this publication:

General important points to note

Questions for discussion: issues that communities should think about and discuss

Suggestions for action

What the law says

Reports about specific community groups


What is gender-based violence
and why is it a problem?
Gender refers to the way men and
women behave in a culture. This varies
between one community and another
Sex
and can change over time. The term The physical differences between male and female, such as
gender has a different meaning to sex. penis and vagina. These differences are permanent.
The sex of a man or woman refers to
the physical differences between them, Gender
such as having a penis or vagina. These
The way men and woman behave in a culture. This varies
differences are permanent. Gender refers between one community and another and can change over
to the roles and responsibilities men time.
and women have. These differences are
changeable.

Gender-based violence is violence that is related to the way men and woman are expected to behave. It could
be that a woman is beaten for failing to cook the dinner on time, or a man has to prove his manhood by
showing aggression to a woman. Gender-based violence can be directed at children, adults or the elderly. A
boy-child may be beaten if he cries because men are not supposed to show emotion. An elderly woman
may be beaten if she fails to care for her children and her grandchildren, because traditionally elderly women
are supposed to do this.

Gender-based violence is common in Namibia. It is estimated that one in five women are in an abusive
relationship. “Hidden” issues such as witchcraft are also common in Namibia, although information on
these issues is difficult to obtain as few people are willing to admit that such beliefs exist. Witchcraft can
be related to gender-based violence because a man or a woman may use the threat of witchcraft to control
another person according to the way he or she is supposed to behave, according to a gender stereotype.

Statistics report the number of people directly affected by abuse, but

they do not show the impact that violence has on family members,
the community and even society as a whole. Children exposed Victim
to violence may experience emotional and behavioural prob-
lems, either immediately or later in life, and may come to
Family
believe that violence is acceptable. Neighbours, family
members and community members may live their
lives in fear of abuse. The increased use of police Community
time, medical care and loss of productivity
affects society at large. Abusers are also
affected by the violence they commit, Society
as they often lose the respect of their
family and their self-respect.
A single act of violence affects the victim, the family, the community
Some people think that gender-based and society.
violence is part of their culture. Although
this can be true, information collected at the workshops in all 13 regions of Namibia showed that the same
types of gender-based violence are present in many of the cultures in Namibia. This suggests that gender-
based violence is often not really about culture but simply about the need for one person to dominate another.
Culture is not something that stays still, it changes over time. If people assess what their culture was like one
hundred or two hundred years ago, they will see that there are many differences between the past and the


present. Just because something was done in the past, does not mean it has to happen in the present.
This means that people do not have to blame their culture for the level of gender-based violence in their
community. Culture can and does change.

Both men and women can be victims of gender-based violence. However, data shows that women are more
likely than men to be victims of this kind of violence. There are several reasons for this:

 Men are often physically stronger than women. This can make it easier for a man to physically abuse a
woman, than for a woman to physically abuse a man.
 In many cultures in Namibia, the traditional role of a woman is to serve the man. If the woman fails to
do what the man wants, it is considered acceptable that the man should beat the woman.

Questions for discussion

 Does everyone in your community have the same understanding of the community’s culture? Do men and
women in your community ever have different ideas about the right ways of doing things?
 Do people in your community blame gender-based violence on your culture? Do you think this is a good
excuse?
 How can you persuade people that culture is not an excuse for violence?


BASIC FACTS ON
THE COMBATING OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT
Gender Research & Advocacy Project
LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTRE
Windhoek, Namibia, 2008

What is What is a
domestic protection order?
violence?
A protection order is a court
Domestic violence is order saying that the abuser must
violence towards a family stop the violent behaviour, stay away
member or someone who is from the people who are being abused,
in a relationship with the abuser. or even leave the family home altogether.
When children are the victims,
the violence is often referred to as How do you apply for a
“child abuse”.
protection order?
What is a domestic 1. Go to the Magistrate’s Court. You do
relationship? not need a lawyer and the Clerk of the
Court will help you to fill in the forms.
 Marriage 2. You should take any witnesses who have
 Living together seen the violence and any evidence you
 Girlfriend and boyfriend may have, such as medical records.
 Two people who are the parents of a child 3. The Magistrate will look at your application. If there is enough
 Parents and their children evidence a temporary protection order will be made. The
 Family members with a domestic connection, such as where Magistrate may want more information before making a
an uncle pays for the school fees of his niece and nephew decision.
4. When the abuser is given the protection order, he/she must
decide to accept it or to disagree with it.
Examples of domestic violence 5. If the abuser disagrees, an informal hearing will be held with
1. Physical abuse, such as beating, kicking or burning. the Magistrate. This hearing is private. At the hearing both
2. Sexual abuse, such as rape or forcing someone to have people can tell their side of the story. The Magistrate will then
sexual contact. decide whether or not to make a final protection order.
3. Economic abuse, such as not allowing a person to have items 6. If the abuser accepts the protection order, the protection
or money they need or should expect to have (such as food or order becomes final without a hearing.
their own wages). 7. The court will send a copy of the protection order to the local
4. Intimidation, which is making someone afraid by using threats police station.
or similar behaviour.
5. Harassment, which is repeatedly following or communicating
with someone in a way they do not want.
6. Trespassing, which is entering the home or property of
someone without their agreement when they do not share the
same home.
7. Emotional or verbal abuse, which is a pattern of behaviour
that makes a person feel seriously upset or embarrassed.
This could include repeated insults or jealous behaviour.
8. Threatening to do any of these things is domestic violence.

It is also domestic violence if a child is allowed to see physical,

sexual or psychological abuse against a family member.

What can you do if you are experiencing

domestic violence?
See the Legal Assistance Centre’s
(1) You can make an application for a protection order. Guide to the Combating of Domestic
(2) You can lay a charge with the police. Violence Act for more details.
(3) You can ask the police to give the abuser a formal
warning.
Funded by the
You can go to the police and apply for a protection order Embassy of the French Republic
at the same time. Legal Assistance Centre
P.O. Box 604, Windhoek, Namibia
Tel. 061-223356


Domestic violence
“For women, trying to protect ourselves in public doesn’t
make a difference because we are not safe at home.”
Workshop participant, Keetmanshoop

Domestic violence is
disturbing because
the home and family
should be places
where people can feel the most safe and
secure. One of the most famous cases
of domestic violence to reach the news
in Namibia was when a man killed his
wife and cooked her body in the kitchen
of their home. In the place where the
woman felt that she was safe, she was
brutally attacked and killed.

Many of the participants in the workshops said that women are often afraid to report domestic violence. A
participant in the Tsumeb workshop gave the following example: A man comes home after work and hits his
wife because her cooking is bad. His wife threatens to report him to the police but he does not care because he
knows that even if she does report him, she will withdraw the case in a few days. The participant explained
that women are sometimes afraid to leave their husbands. Women are often dependant on their husbands and
are afraid of what the community will think if the woman leaves. However, the truth is that domestic violence
is a crime whether it occurs in the home or in public, and the Namibian police are trained to take this kind of
violence very seriously. Women should not be afraid go to the police if they are being abused.

Divindu
At the workshop in Divindu, we asked the participants three questions:
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the problem of domestic violence in your community?
2. How would you like to change this problem? What is your goal?
3. What actions can you take to reach this goal?

The participants said that on a scale of 1 to 10, the problem of domestic violence is 7. This means that it is a fairly
important issue and that it occurs frequently. The participants discussed the problem. Domestic violence was felt to
be an issue because of alcohol, jealously, affairs outside of marriage and because men expect women to do everything
they are told. Some people believe that a man has the right to beat a woman if she does not do her work properly. For
example if a woman does not have the food ready when the man comes home, she can be beaten.

To address these problems, the group came up with the following goal:
To develop respect and co-operation in relationships.

Five actions were suggested that could help reach this goal:
1. Teach the community about respect in relationships.
2. Teach people that alcohol abuse can lead to domestic violence.
3. Involve traditional leaders and community leaders in educating the community.
4. Teach people that trust is important in relationships.
5. Report incidents of domestic violence to the police.


Questions for discussion
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the problem of domestic violence in your community?
2. How would you like to change this problem? What is your goal?
3. What actions can you take to reach this goal?

Suggestions for action

 Does your community ignore situations of domestic violence? Organise a debate to discuss the issue and
think of solutions that can help victims of domestic violence.
 Do people understand that domestic violence can be more than physical violence? Design posters that
explain the other types of domestic violence. Remember that you do not have to have posters professionally
printed – you can draw them yourselves.
 Domestic violence is not acceptable in a partnership or in a marriage. Do pastors in your community counsel
couples about mutual respect in relationships? If not, ask your pastor to preach on the topic.
 Do people know how to apply for a protection order? Ask your local police station, Woman and Child
Protection Unit or Magistrate’s Court if they can give a talk to a community group about the process.

>>

Sticking to stereotypes

Bernafey Men Women

The group was asked to list the different tasks
men and women have in their community. The  Build the houses  Care for children
group came up with the list on the right. These are  Control the money  Cook food
examples of gender stereotypes because the men  Watch the animals  Do needlework
or the women may not have the natural talent to  Protect the house  Wash and iron the
do these activities, but they are expected to do  Drive the car clothes
them because of their sex.  Clean the house

Questions for discussion

 Do men and women have fixed roles in your community?
 Is it good for men and women to have fixed roles?
 What are the consequences if a man or a woman does not do the tasks he or she is supposed to do?

Suggestions for action: How to change stereotypes

 For one week, ask the men do the cooking and cleaning. In the same week, ask the women take on the
tasks that a man usually does in the household. Taking on the role of another person can make it easier to
understand the challenges each person faces.
 Do tasks together. A husband can help his wife care for the children, and a wife can help a husband with
building or repair work on the house. Working together means that burdens can be shared.


Keetmanshoop The perfect man The perfect woman

The group was asked to make a list of the charac-

teristics a perfect man or a perfect woman would  Knows what he wants  Trustworthy
have. The men had to describe their perfect woman and where he is  Diligent
and the women had to describe their perfect man. going  Loyal
The group came up with the list on the right.  Loving and  Beautiful from the
trustworthy inside
But it seems that in reality, many people seem  Has an ear to listen  Soft and loving
to choose transactional relationships rather than  Has a sense of humor  Honest
relationships based on love, trust and respect. A  Has a helping hand  Reliable
transactional relationship means that one person  Short hair  A good
is buying another person, and the person who has  Good smile communicator
been “bought” becomes a possession. This kind  Very neat  Caring
of relationship is dangerous, because violence if  Sexy body  Loving and smiling
more likely to occur if there is no love, trust and  Hard worker  A good listener/
respect. observer

Questions for discussion

 What makes an ideal man?
 What makes an ideal woman?
 Do you think that transactional relationships are common in your community?
 Do you think that transactional relationships can lead to violence?
 What can be done to educate men and women about the dangers of transactional relationships?

Suggestions for action

 Use role plays to illustrate how accepting gifts from older men can make young girls vulnerable.
 Teach young people about how to have a healthy relationship. Information should include teaching
about gender equality, mutual respect, communication skills and self-esteem. Make sure that both sexes
understand that healthy relationships should not be based on financial/transactional considerations.


BASIC FACTS ON THE
COMBATING OF RAPE ACT
Gender Research & Advocacy Project
LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTRE
Windhoek, Namibia, 2008

What is rape? What to do if you are raped

Rape is when a person carries out a “sexual act” under “coercive Keep the evidence:
circumstances.”
 Do not wash yourself.
 Do not change your clothes.
Both men and women can be raped.
 Do not tidy up the place where the rape happened.
 Wrap any evidence in paper. Do not put it in a plastic bag.
A “sexual act” can be:
 the insertion of the penis into the vagina, mouth, or anus of Go to the police or a Woman and Child Protection Unit
another person
You should report the rape to the police so that the person who
 the insertion of any part of the body of a human or animal
raped you can be caught. Your information will be kept private.
into the vagina or anus
Even the trial is private.
 the insertion of any object into the vagina or anus
 oral stimulation of the male or female sexual parts
Go to a doctor, clinic or hospital
 any other form of stimulation of the male or female sexual parts.
You should see a doctor or nurse as soon as possible. The doctor can
give you medication to prevent HIV infection and sexually transmitted
infections, and medication to prevent you from becoming pregnant from
the rape.

“Coercive circumstances” means that a person is forced or

threatened by:
 physical force or threats
 threats to cause another type of harm
 being unable to escape from a situation
 being unable to understand or prevent the situation, because
of being drunk/drugged/asleep/disabled
 the person pretends to be someone else or pretends that what
is happening is not actually a sexual act
 more than one person is used to intimidate the person into
having sex
 one person is under the age of 14 and the other person is
more than 3 years older.

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)

You may need to be tested for HIV and you may be given PEP. This
medicine can help prevent HIV infection. PEP is free if you cannot If you become pregnant from rape
afford to pay.
If you become pregnant from rape, you can get a legal abortion.
Rape within You should get a pregnancy test right away if your next period is
late, and you should tell your doctor if you want an abortion.
marriage
Marriage does not prevent
rape. If a husband forces See the Legal Assistance Centre’s
his wife or a wife forces A Guide to the Combating of Rape Act
her husband, it is rape. for more details.
Rape is rape whenever a
person says no or is
coerced into sex. Funded by the
Embassy of the French Republic
Legal Assistance Centre
P.O. Box 604, Windhoek, Namibia
Tel. 061-223356

10
RAPE

It is estimated that 40% of rapes in Namibia are committed by someone known to the victim. This means
that the perpetrator (the person who committed the crime) may have been a family member, a member of
the community or a work colleague. Some of the workshop participants suggested that acquaintance rape
(rape when the perpetrator is known to the victim) happens because the perpetrator did not understand
that “no means no”. Some people said that a woman will never say yes to sex and the man has to continue
regardless of what the woman says. This is not true. A woman should be able to say “no” once and the man
should stop. A number of myths are associated with cases of rape. The table below shows some of these
myths, and gives possible answers to these myths.

Myth Response

Wearing a skirt means that a A woman who wears a skirt is not asking to be raped. Nobody will ever ask
girl is tempting men to have sex to be raped. If this statement was true, it must then mean that when men do
with her. not wear a shirt they are tempting girls to have sex with them.

When a man wants to have sex, When a man feels a need for have sex, he does not have to have sex. Some
he must have sex. men, such as Catholic priests, will never have sex in their entire lives. If a man
does not have sex when he wants it, nothing will be injured or damaged, not
in his brain or in his private parts.

Men cannot control their urges. Men can control their urges.

Girls should cover themselves A woman should never have to feel afraid about what she can and cannot
up and dress appropriately. wear.

A man who buys a woman a Sex should not be seen as a transaction. If a woman wants to have sex with a
number of drinks should expect man after they have been out for a drink, this is fine. But if she does not want
to have sex with her afterwards. to have sex, the man cannot force her. This would be rape.

11
 Friday, March 7, 2008 – Web posted at 7:16:51 GMT

30-year prison sentences for Katima gang rape

WERNER MENGES

TWO young men who were convicted on gang-rape charges in the Katima Mulilo Regional
Court this week were each sentenced to an effective 30 years’ imprisonment yesterday.
The trial of Makala Muyamenwa (21) and George Chikaziza died before the start of his and his
Lunyango (21) started before Magistrate William co-suspects’ trial.
Kasitomo in the Katima Mulilo Regional Court on According to the complainant in the case she
Monday with both accused men pleading not guilty had left her house during the night of November 14
to five counts of rape. 2005 to go to the toilet outside.
After neither of the two men testified in their As she returned to the house, she was accosted
own defence following the closing of the case for the by three men, who held her down and took turns
prosecution, the Magistrate convicted each of them raping her, she said.
on three charges of rape on Wednesday. She claimed that she could see the three suspects
Their trial concluded yesterday with the Magistrate and also recognised them by their voices.
sentencing Muyamenwa and Lunyango to ten years’ The three suspects however told the Police after
imprisonment on each of the three charges. their arrest that consensual sex had taken place with
Magistrate Kasitomo further ordered that these the complainant.
sentences are to be served consecutively, with the Each of them also claimed, though, that he
effect that Muyamenwa and Lunyango have each himself did not take part in the sexual intercourse,
received an effective term of 30 years’ imprisonment. but only helped his co-accused in the act.
Muyamenwa, Lunyango and a third suspect, That was not what the complainant testified,
Mubone Given Chikaziza, had been charged with though, and it was also not what the Magistrate
gang-raping a 17-year-old girl at Katima Mulilo’s found in his verdict.
Dairy Compound on November 14, 2005.

Questions for discussion

 Use the article above to discuss whether you think the perpetrators of this crime received a fair punishment.
 Would you report a rapist?
 Would you report your neighbour if he raped someone?
 Would you report your neighbour if he raped a friend?
 Would you report your neighbour if he raped your daughter?
 Would you report your son if he raped someone?

Suggestions for action

 Make sure that people in your community understand the statements below. This could be done through
workshops, presentations, posters or radio shows. Or you might want to think of other ways to get this idea
across.
 “No means no”. A woman should be able to say “no” and a man should know that he must stop.
 In addition to the right to say “no”, a woman should be able to feel that she can say “yes” to sex if she
wants it.
 Women must be able to say “yes” or “no” to sex as they wish, and men should understand and expect
women to say what they really mean.
 Get women to act our role plays with other women where they practice saying what they mean more directly.

12
Oshikuku
At the workshop in Oshikuku, we asked the participants three questions:
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the problem of rape in your community?
2. How would you like to change this problem? What is your goal?
3. What actions can you take to reach this goal?

The participants said that on a scale of 1 to 10, the problem of rape is 8. This means that it is an important issue
and that it occurs frequently. The issue of rape affects the whole village.

The group identified causes of rape in their community as unemployment, alcohol, drugs, gender inequality and
a power struggle between men and women. A rape may happen because the perpetrator wants to show power
over the opposite sex. The perpetrator may also know that the victim will not report the case. This is because there
is not enough education about what to do if a person has been raped. Other reasons that people do not report
cases of rape are because they are afraid of further violence, or because “they just want to hold it inside”.

The group felt that their first goal should be to make sure people have information on what to do if they have
been raped.

Five actions were suggested that could help

Gender Violence
reach this goal:
1. Use the media to provide information.
2. Perform role-plays.
3. Get traditional leaders, the police and
learners involved. New Start Centre, Oshikuku
4. Find a community educator to take this
information to the communities. 22nd August 2008
5. Educate people about the rights of
women.

The participants made sure that action was

Immanuel Iita & Tonderai Bhatasata
taken following this discussion. They asked
staff from the Legal Assistance Centre office
Legal Assistance Centre
in Ongwediva to give a presentation on gender
violence at a community meeting that was held
Ongwediva Regional office
a few weeks later.

Questions for discussion

 Can women say no to sex?
 Can women say that they want to have
sex?
 Do men understand “no means no”?
 Are women in your community taught
to say “no” to sexual advances from men
if they really mean “yes”? Discuss how
this can be harmful.
 Discuss how women in your community
can be more honest about whether
they want sex while still respecting their
cultural traditions.

13
BASIC FACTS ON THE MArrIEd
PErSONS EquAlITy ACT
Gender research & Advocacy Project
lEGAl ASSISTANCE CENTrE
Windhoek, Namibia, 2008

What is the Married Persons Which system of marital

Equality Act (MPEA)? property applies?
The MPEA removes sexual Most civil marriages in Namibia
discrimination from civil marriages. are in community of property.
Married equality means that husbands If you want to be married out of
and wives have equal power to make community of property you must
decisions. make a contract before you are
married and register it at the office
Property and marriage of the Registrar of Deeds.

But if you live north of the old

In community of property:
“Police Zone”, in the areas known as
 Everything a husband and wife had Owamboland, Kavango and Caprivi,
before they were married becomes marriages that take place between
part of the joint estate. Everything “Africans” on or after 1 August 1950
earned or bought once married are out of community of property.
also becomes part of the joint estate. Each partner If you want to be married in community of property
owns half of the joint estate. If one partner has a you must make a contract with the marriage officer
debt, money from the joint estate can be used to before the marriage takes place.
pay this debt.
 Both partners must agree to Marriage and
sell, give away or borrow
money or property. Both children
partners must agree if
they want to take out The MPEA states
a large loan. that both parents
 If the couple divorce are joint custodians
or if one partner dies, and equal guardians.
the property will be This means both
split in half. parents can make
decisions about how their
children are brought up. They do not
Out of community of property:
have to consult each other on most
 Everything a husband and wife decisions. But some decisions, such
had before they were married as deciding to put the child up
remains their own. Once they for adoption or removing the
are married they keep their child from Namibia, must be
own earnings. They are each made together.
responsible for their own
loans and debts.
 The husband or the wife can
buy or sell their belongings
without asking the other person. They can each
take out a loan without asking the other person. See the legal Assistance Centre’s
 Not all costs are separate. The cost of household Guide to the Married Persons
needs should be shared because a husband and a Equality Act for more details.
wife have a duty to maintain each other.
 If a couple want a divorce, they each keep their
Funded by the
own property and anything they bought together Embassy of the French Republic
is divided in half. If one partner dies, it is only that Legal Assistance Centre
P.O. Box 604, Windhoek, Namibia
partner’s separate property which goes to the heirs. Tel. 061-223356

14
Married equality

“What is love? The term love does not exist.”

Workshop participant, Keetmanshop

The Constitution says that “all persons shall be equal before the law” and that “no persons may be
discriminated against on the grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed or social or economic
status”. The table below shows some of the opinions discussed at the workshops and the responses that
could be given to support the right of men and woman to be equal in a relationship.

Opinion Response
I am working for us, why should A job does not just provide money. It can also build self-esteem. A woman
you? (A male opinion) may feel like a prisoner if she is kept at home. Men must ask themselves what
they are afraid of if a woman goes out to work.

If you buy a woman, you own her. Women are not objects that can be bought. They are human beings with
(A male opinion) rights and feelings just like men. You do not buy a woman. You enter into a
relationship and you have to work at that relationship if it is to be a success.

Even if a woman is born poor, Women have the right and the ability to earn money, just like men. Women
she can marry money. do not need to rely on men to survive.

Once a woman is independent Why does a woman need to be controlled? Relationships are about equal
she is difficult to control. partnerships, not about one person dominating the other.

A woman should stay at home If a man is allowed this information, why can’t a woman have this
to avoid influences that might information? Men and women are equal. A woman should not be treated like
make her argumentative. She a child.
might learn information that
could make her troublesome.

A woman can’t earn more Why not? If a man and woman love each other, the man should be proud that
money than a man. he has a wife who is able to earn a good salary. As the money could help to
pay for household expenses, the man would benefit from his wife earning a
good salary. If a man thinks that his worth can only be proven by money, then
important aspects of a relationship, such as love and respect, are missing.

15
Some men in the workshops voiced concerns about women being viewed as their equals in relationships.
But when relationships are built on love, trust and respect, the fears the men have about gender equality
decrease. If a woman feels that she is an equal and that she is respected, she will not need to find another
man who will treat her better. When the work loads are shared, and husbands and wives treat each other
with respect, both men and women will benefit.

“If you really love a person, there should be equality in the marriage.”
Workshop participant, Ndiyona

Questions for discussion

The Namibian Constitution says that “Men and women … shall be entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during
marriage and at its dissolution” (Article 14).

The Married Persons Equality Act removed the husband’s right to have legal power over his wife and her
possessions. This means that men and women in marriage are now equal in the eyes of the law.

 Is it a good thing that men and women are now equal in marriage?

16
Control in relationships
“Marriage sounds like a simple thing but it is complex.”
Workshop participant, Ndiyona

Some of the workshop participants reported that men in relationships set the rules. Women have to ask
permission to do things such as visit their friends or stay out late. In Ongwediva, the participants said that
the man will often make the following decisions:
 when a woman can go out (she can’t go out at night);
 when a woman can visit her friends;
 how many children the couple will have;
 what time dinner should be served;
 how the wife should spend her money (he takes her salary);
 who drives the car (the man);
 which animals to slaughter;
 when to have sex.

In many cases, women in relationships feel that they have very little control about sex. Even when there is no
coercion (which would mean that a rape had been committed), women can often feel unable to negotiate
about sex. This can mean that women are afraid to ask their partner to use a condom, even if they know
the man is sleeping with more than one woman. Or it can mean that women feel that they are unable to
say no to sex, even when they want to say no. Gender equality means that women who are in relationships
have the right to decide with their partner when, where and how to have sex.

Suggestion for action:

Hold a debate on “Who are Mr and Mrs Gender Equality?” in your town
 Invite three couples to compete to win the title of “Mr and Mrs Gender Equality”. You could invite a local
pastor and partner or your local regional counsellor and partner.

 Invite your audience to come and watch the debate.

 Provide your speakers with some questions to prepare themselves. For example, they might want to discuss:
 What does gender equality mean in their relationship?
 How do they try to ensure that each partner is treated fairly?
 Who does the cooking/cleaning/drives the car in their relationship?
 If they could make one recommendation to other people on how to have an equal relationship, what
would it be?
 What do they enjoy most about equality in marriage?

 At the debate, ask each couple to present their argument on why they should receive the title “Mr and Mrs
Gender Equality”.

 Once each couple has presented their argument, ask the audience for comments and questions.

 At the end of the evening, ask the audience to choose the winning couple.

17
Parent-child relationships
Gender-based violence can also be an issue in the parent-child relationship. This discussion was often related
to how parents should discipline their children. Many people felt that if children were not beaten they would
not behave well. For many of the participants, corporal punishment (the use of beating and hitting) was the
only way they knew to discipline a child. Children do need to be punished when they do something wrong,
but the use of corporal punishment is not a good choice of discipline because it does not tell children why
their actions were wrong. If a child does not understand why there was a problem, he or she might continue
to behave badly. Corporal punishment can also teach children that violence is the answer to problems
– especially in situations where the other person is smaller and less powerful.

Gobabis
The participants at the Gobabis workshop felt that part of the problem with child discipline was due to absent
parents. In one of the role plays they performed, they showed children going to shebeens because their parents
were away. It was not acceptable for other adults to reprimand the children as the parents would later say “You
do not buy them food, so it is not your problem.” The participants said that in the past people had more respect
for discipline from elders and the community. An elder used to be able to visit a mother and give advice about
how to manage her children but this does not happen anymore.

Suggestions for action

The participants at the Gobabis workshop came up with the following ideas for action:
 Communities should get together to share ideas about how to discipline children.
 Perform dramas about child discipline.
 Make a badge, bracelet or necklace that is a sign for supporting the reduction of gender-based violence.
 Form a support group for women suffering from gender-based violence.

The Gobabis group were fairly nervous about their ability to put their ideas into action in order to reduce
gender-based violence in their community. However, when the group were asked to think about the skills they
had, it became clear to them that they had a lot of talent to use. The abilities the group had included:
 confidence
 happiness
 dancing
 singing
 playing sports
 cooking
 talking.

Questions for discussion

 What abilities do people in your community have which they could use in actions to reduce violence and
improve parent-child relationships?

18
Ongwediva
At the workshop in Ongwediva, we asked the participants three questions:
1. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the problem of child abuse in your community?
2. How would you like to change this problem? What is your goal?
3. What action can you take to reach this goal?

The participants said that on a scale of 1 to 10, the problem of child abuse is 7. This means that it is a fairly
important issue and that it occurs frequently.

The participants discussed the problem. Part of the problem is the way grandparents discipline their grandchildren.
The grandparents have good intentions, but they can become so violent that the discipline turns into abuse.

The participants were asked to perform role plays on what is good and bad discipline. An example of good
discipline was where the parent explains to the child what he or she did wrong, explains the consequences of
the actions and takes away some of the child’s pleasures as a punishment.

Three steps for good discipline were discussed:

1. Teach children to respect their parents. It is hard to discipline a child if the child does not have respect.
2. Be open with your children. Listen to their feelings, communicate and have fun together.
3. Give information to your children. Explain the consequences of their actions.

19
Alternative methods of punishment
At the workshops a number of alternatives to corporal punishment were discussed. The ideas below show
some of the methods parents could use instead of corporal punishment:

Type of punishment Description

Telling off and discussion The parent explains to the child what he or she did wrong and why it is
wrong.

Time out Ask the child to stop doing whatever he or she is doing and calm down.
The child should be taken to a separate room or outside and asked to
sit down and take “time out”. This could be for five minutes if they child
is young, or thirty minutes if the child is older. During this time, the
child is able to think about what he or she did wrong. Give the child this
punishment every time he or she misbehaves. Being made to sit quietly
and wait is boring for the child and the child will learn not to misbehave
in this way.

Removal of rewards/pleasures As a punishment the child is prevented from making a visit to his or her
friends or has to go to bed early. Or the parent could think of another
punishment that will remove a reward or pleasure.

Solve the problem If something has been damaged, the child could be asked to mend it.

Take responsibility for the action Sometimes making a child own up to an action can be a very effective
punishment. If a child stole something from a shop, make the child visit
the manager, return the item and apologise.

20
Suggestions for action
 Teach other people about alternatives to corporal punishment.
 Ask pastors to preach a sermon about what the Bible really says about discipline.
 Organise an event with local schools where parents and teachers can discuss how to discipline children.

Suggestion for action:

How to hold a football competition
Some of the groups suggested that children need to be given more supervision and activities. This can help
keep them out of trouble. One idea discussed at the Ndiyona workshop was to organise sporting activities for
children.

1. Start your team. You might want to have 5 people on each team, 8 people or a full team of 11.
2. Find somewhere to play. This could be on a school sports field if you ask permission, or another open space
in your area.
3. Organise one day a week when you can meet and practise. Make it regular and be dedicated.
4. Make sure you do fitness exercises and warm ups as well if you want your team to be the best.
5. See if there are any other teams in your area. If so, contact them and ask if they want to have a match.

You could organise a football tournament in your community.

1. Make posters to advertise your event.

2. Invite teams to play. Perhaps charge a small fee to enter (perhaps N$1 or N$5 per person). This could help
raise money to buy new equipment or something your group might need.
3. Ask people to come and support the tournament. Make it a fun day for the community.
4. See if anybody wants to do some catering. This would a great idea for income generation.
5. See if anybody wants to sell drinks. This is another good idea for income generation.

Football Tournament
DATE: ________________________________
TIME: ________________________________
LOCATION: ____________________________
RULES: Form a team of 5 people.
Each person should pay N$___ to play.
The winning team receives ______________________________.

21
Abuse of the elderly
Abuse of the elderly is common in Namibia. Just as there are transactional relationships between men and
women in relationships, it also appears many of the relationships between elderly people and their children
or grandchildren are transactional. The children or grandchildren expect the grandparents to give them
money from their pension payments, and if they do not provide the money, violence may follow. Another
issue discussed was the vulnerability of older people in a commercial world. Tales were told about elderly
people being sold goods on credit. The elders were later falsely told that they must pay all of their next
pension money to the shop owner on pension day.

What the law says about abuse of elderly people

 Domestic violence is violence towards a family member or someone who is in a relationship with the abuser.
A grandparent has a domestic relationship with his or her child or grandchild.
 If an elderly person is experiencing domestic violence, he or she can make an application for a protection
order, lay a charge with the police or ask the police to give the abuser a formal warning. Applying for a
protection order and visiting the police can be done at the same time.
 For details on how to apply for a protection order see the Domestic Violence Fact Sheet on page 5.

Questions for discussion

 Did you know that a grandparent can apply
for a protection order against his or her grand­
child, in the same way that a man or woman
can apply for a protection order against his
or her partner?
 Do you think that grandparents would do
this? Why might they not do this?
 What can be done to support a grandparent
if he or she needs to apply for a protection
order?

One of the biggest problems relating to gender-

based violence in Namibia is the lack of ownership
about the issue. Abuse of the elderly is an important
example of a lack of ownership. People do not
like the violence that grandchildren show their
grandparents but do nothing to stop it. People
know about cases of extortion in shops but ignore
it. Abuse of the elderly is not a fashionable issue;
the elderly have a very quiet voice and few means
and resources to make their voices heard. But this
does not mean that their voices should be ignored.

Namibians need to speak out about these

problems to ensure that they are addressed.

22
Mariental
The participants at Mariental workshop identified elderly abuse as a particular problem in their town. The rate
of abuse in Mariental is probably not any different to other towns in Namibia, but there are people in Mariental
who are willing to take a stand against the problem. The group identified a number of issues:
 On pension day, elderly people are beaten up or coerced into giving their pension money to their grand­children.
 The violence often occurs in the homes. This means that it is a hidden form of violence that is difficult to
identify, and difficult to stop.

The group suggested a number of ways to tackle the issue:

1. Teach children about healthy relationships with elders.
2. Put on a play about good and bad relationships between grandparents, parents and children.
3. Explain to people that abuse is more than physical violence.
4. Teach people that grandparents can also apply for protection orders.
5. Find an elderly person who will stand up and say “this happened to me” and what he or she did to stop the
violence.

Hagaseb, Usakos
The workshop at Usakos was held with the !Khe!homs Community Leaders Committee. This was a group of
elders who had decided to work together to improve their community, not only for themselves, but also for the
youth. A number of ideas for action that would address many different types of gender-based violence were
discussed with the group:
1. Start a youth group in Hagaseb to give the youth something to do in their free time.
2. Organise meetings with local authorities to discuss how to improve the facilities in the community.
3. Help parents work with schools to improve the life skills that children are taught. For example children may need
more information about how to control their anger and how to maintain healthy relationships with the friends,
partners, parents and elders.

Otjivero
The participants at the workshop held in Otjivero, the village where the Basic Income Grant is being piloted,
came up with an idea for improving the living conditions of elderly people – to build an old age home for their
elderly. This might seem like an impossible dream, but anything is possible if community members have the will
and determination. The home does not have to be like a palace – it could start off as a simple structure where
old people can go for shelter. The community could then try to raise funds or find sponsorship to make the
home into something more permanent.

Suggestions for action

 Ask elderly people in your community whether they think that elderly abuse is a problem.
 What support do elders in your community think they need to prevent and address the problems they are
experiencing?

23
Alcohol

“Respect alcohol and alcohol will respect you.”

Workshop participant, Bernafey

Discussions at the workshops showed that abuse of alcohol is a national problem. Whilst some people felt
that alcohol was the cause of gender-based violence, other people identified it as just part of the problem.
When people drink alcohol they become more relaxed and their inhibitions (the controls that stop people
from doing certain actions) decrease or disappear altogether. A participant from the workshop at Bernafey
described this as: “you are taping when you are sober, you are playing when you are drunk”. This means
that people may think of or plan violent actions when they are sober but their inhibitions prevent them from
actually being violent. They are “taping” or recording what they would like to do. This can mean that when
they are drunk and their inhibitions are lower, they remember what they had been thinking or planning and
now feel confident enough to do it. This means that there is a need for education when people are sober
to reduce the violent concepts or thoughts that they may have.

The table below shows some of the opinions discussed at the workshops, and the responses that could be
given to support the need to address alcohol abuse in the community.

Comment Response

It is not your money I am drinking. The impact of alcohol abuse affects the whole community.
This means that the problem cannot be ignored.

Go to Windhoek and stop the alcohol abuse. The problem cannot be solved from a distance, and the
law cannot, by itself, prevent alcohol abuse. Communities
must first stand together and then try to get support from
government and other organisations.

What does the law say about alcohol abuse?

The Liquor Act 6 of 1998 states that:
 it is an offence for any person to sell or supply liquor to any person under 18 years old. This includes parents,
bartenders and shebeen-owners, and even other youths.
 it is an offence to become intoxicated in a public place.
 it is an offence to produce any alcoholic drink (such as homebrew) in order to sell or supply it to others
without a licence.

On a first conviction for any of these offences, the penalty is a fine of up to N$4000 and/or imprisonment for
up to a year. On a second conviction, the penalty is a fine of up to N$8000 and/or imprisonment for up to two
years.

24
Warmbad
The workshop participants at Warmbad felt that alcohol was an important problem in their community. To
address this issue, they came up with the idea of holding a “no drinking” weekend. They could put up posters
about the event and provide activities for the community to during the weekend as alternatives to drinking. By
showing the community that they do not have to drink every weekend, the group hoped that people would
understand that alcohol should be used responsibly.

THE PEOPLE OF WARMBAD

INVITE YOU NOT TO DRINK
FOR JUST ONE WEEKEND
From Saturday __________ to Sunday ___________

When people do not drink responsibly,

alcohol can be the cause of many problems:

Domestic Violence
Rape
Child Abuse
Car Accidents

PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT BY

NOT DRINKING THIS WEEKEND.

Suggestions for action

 Report situations of alcohol abuse to the police.
 Organise a petition if you think that a shebeen or other place selling alcohol should have their liquor licence
cancelled, suspended, amended or reviewed.
 Community leaders and community activists can lead by example. People can demonstrate what responsible
drinking means.
 Perform dramas at drinking places such as shebeens about the dangers of abusing alcohol.

25
Witchcraft
To some people, believing in witchcraft and traditional healing is a way of life. Some people believe that
a witchdoctor can tell them how they can become successful. If that were the case, everyone would visit
a witchdoctor and become successful. The table below shows some of the examples of witchcraft that
were discussed at the workshops and the responses that could be given to explain why these are not
examples of witchcraft.

Witchcraft Reality

A man was cursed by a woman and became so ill A number of diseases could have caused the man to
that he needed to be in a wheelchair. A traditional become wheelchair-bound. This is likely to be the
healer tried to remove the curse but it was too result of a medical condition not a curse.
powerful.

A group of men raped a girl. Some of the parents The law requires evidence beyond reasonable doubt.
of the men went to see a witchdoctor, taking the This means that if there is not enough evidence to
clothes of their son. On the first day in court, the convict a person, the person cannot be sent to prison.
case was thrown out because the magic was so In this case, there might not have been enough
powerful. evidence for the case to go ahead.

The following example was also discussed at the workshops: A mother wants to apply for maintenance
for her child. The father tells the mother that if she does so, he will curse the child. The child then falls
sick. This is not an example of witchcraft. It is an example of a person trying to threaten and intimidate
another person, and a separate incidence of a child falling sick. How can the mother be sure that the child
would not have got sick anyway? The answer is that she cannot be sure. It cannot be proven that the child
would have stayed healthy without the curse. People often remember times when a curse and a sickness
happen at the same time. But do people remember the times when a curse is not followed by a sickness?
This probably happens far more often but people forget about these times.

What does the law say about witchcraft?

The Maintenance Act 9 of 2003 states that:
 Any person who with intent to compel or induce a complainant not to file a complaint at the maintenance
court or not to lay a criminal charge against a defendant for his or her failure to support a specific person, in any
manner threatens by whatever means, including the use of witchcraft, to kill, assault, injure the complainant or
any other person or to cause damage to that complainant or any other person, or that complainant’s property
or another person’s property, commits an offence and is liable to a fine which does not exceed N$20 000 or to
imprisonment for a period which does not exceed five years.
 The Witchcraft Suppression Proclamation 27 of 1933 also makes a number of practices related to witchcraft
criminal offences. For example, it is an offence to make someone believe that you are going to use witchcraft to
cause harm to a person or property. Depending on the crime, the punishment could be a fine or imprisonment
for up to five years.

26
Nydiyona
People at the Ndyiona workshop said that applying
for maintenance could be an intimidating process.
The group discussed the possibility of forming a
support group. Together they could learn how the
process worked, and support each other in their
difficulties. The group even thought of a name:
N4M (Ndyona 4 Maintenance).

 Could you do this in your area?

Suggestions for action

 If witchcraft is a problem in your area, organise
a community meeting to discuss the issue.
 Ask the Magistrate’s Court to provide a
presentation about what the Maintenance Act
says about intimidation.

Monday, June 30, 2008 – Web posted at 9:03:30 AM GMT

Police in South swoop on traditional healers

LUQMAN CLOETE

POLICE at Keetmanshoop have arrested five foreign traditional healers who have been operating
at the town without valid work permits.
The four Zimbabweans and a Malawian were upwards for a small portion of traditional powders,” Abel
arrested on Thursday following a tip-off from the public, said angrily.
Karas Regional Commander, Deputy Commissioner “These fake traditional healers are only here to enrich
Josephat Abel, told The Namibian. themselves on the expense of the poor community,”
They are Shame Marasha, Nelson Masavi, Tapiya said Abel.
Mhiyangiwa, Sam Masawi and Kingsley Karim. The healers charged an upfront consultation fee
On Friday, the four made a brief appearance in ranging from between N$30 and N$50.
the Keetmanshoop Magistrates Court on charges of Police also confiscated electric appliances such as
conducting professional business without work permits. fridges, stoves and computers which had been offered
All remain in custody. as payment for the traditional healers’ services. These
They are set to appear in court again next week. would be kept until the owners could be identified.
When interviewed by the Police commander, one The healers apparently treated some locals for love,
claimed he could even provide medicine that will cure unemployment and financial problems.
AIDS. “Why don’t you go and treat your fellow nationals
“Weeks after you drink the medicine, you’ll be totally who I believe are rocked by unemployment and food
healed from AIDS,” Malawian Kingsley Karim told Abel. scarcity,” Abel wanted to know from the traditional
Abel, who has strongly condemned the mush- healers.
rooming of traditional healers at the town, warned the Meanwhile, Karas Governor Dawid Boois while
public to desist from using these services. addressing the community of Berseba village during
“These people (traditional healers) are fleecing on the the launch of the Berseba Community Development
already poor community members as they are charging Committee (CDC) on Saturday, implored the villagers
them exorbitant prices that range between N$600 and to stay away from traditional healers.

27
Empowering communities to take a
stand against gender-based violence

“If we know the problem and the solution, we can sort it out.”
Workshop participant, Ndiyona

Below are some ideas for ways to start addressing gender-based violence in your community. Many of
these ideas came from participants at the workshops:

Hold a meeting with Organise a debate on issues Perform role plays about
community leaders to discuss such as rape in marriage, or gender-based violence. You
how your community can whether men and women could perform them in the
tackle gender-based violence. should be equal in a marriage. middle of the street or at
a shebeen. If you perform
the role plays in a place that
people do not expect to see a
role play, you will grab their
attention.

Speak on the local radio to tell Get T-shirts with a slogan, Teach children about healthy
people about your cause. such as “This town is against relationships. Talk to schools
gender-based violence”. in your area to see what you
can do to help.

Start a support group. It could Wear ribbons or design Design posters or even put
be for men, women, people a bracelet that identifies up a billboard about your
who need maintenance, the your cause. You could sell cause. Remember that you
elderly, people affected by your ribbon or bracelet to do not have to have posters
domestic violence or any community members for a small professionally printed – you
other vulnerable group. sum of money to earn money can draw them yourselves.
to use to tackle your cause. You
could use the money to hire a
hall to hold a workshop.

Ask taxi drivers to put posters Decorate a bakkie or donkey Ask churches to preach a
about domestic violence or cart and drive through sermon on gender-based
rape in their cars. the community to attract violence all on the same day.
attention to your cause,
playing music or shouting
slogans.

Paint a mural about gender- Compose a song about Develop a voluntary code of
based violence on a wall in a gender-based violence and conduct for your town, with
public area. Make sure that perform it in public. guidelines on how people
you ask for permission first. should behave towards each
other.

28
Suggestion for action: Ideas for an SMS campaign
To get the community involved in a campaign, it is important to make everyone aware of the problems. Using
cell phones to pass on information about your campaign is a simple and effective way of communicating with
friends. By asking people to forward the message, the information can be spread far and wide – from Karasburg
to Katima Muello and from Gobabis to Grootfontein. It can even be free if you pick the right time – see what
deals your network offers. Below are some examples of possible messages about gender-based violence:

1. Make a promise to stop violence. Show your commitment by sending this message to 5 people.
2. Women deserve to feel safe in their own homes. Domestic violence is a crime. Please send this message to
5 people.
3. Rape is a problem in our community. We must work together to change this. Show your commitment by
sending this message to 5 people.
4. Men and women must work together to make Namibia safe. Show your commitment by sending this
message to 5 people.
5. A woman is not a punchbag. Please send this message to 5 people.
6. 6% of rape victims are men. Men need your support in the fight against violence. Show your commitment
by sending this message to 5 people.
7. Give children a chance. Stop violence in Namibia. Show your commitment by sending this message to 5
people.
8. We are all one community. Stand together in the fight against violence. Show your commitment by sending
this message to 5 people.
9. Over 1100 rapes are reported every year in Namibia. Take a stand against rape. Please send this message to
5 people.
10. There is never a good excuse for hitting a woman. Violence is not the answer. Show your commitment by
sending this message to 5 people.
11. Nobody should live in fear of domestic violence. Take a stand against violence in our community. Please
send this message to five people.
12. Victims of violence need support, not judgment. Please send this message to 5 people.

Feedback from the workshops

 I have a better understanding of how women feel about certain issues.
 I have learnt in detail about rape and that it’s not your fault when it happens.
 Today I learnt that women are not for us to stand on, but rather to protect, love and care for.
 I have learnt things that I only heard about and it was an honour to hear.
 Thank you for the encouragement and motivation. We heard things we weren’t expecting to hear.
 I learnt that gender-based violence is a problem and there is silence and too much noise about it but no
definite solution.
 I enjoyed the workshop because we worked in a team.
 I will learn and tell people about what I’ve learnt.
 Because of the workshops, there will be a decrease in men beating women.

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Four of the many LAC publications relating to gender. Digital versions (PDFs) of most LAC publications can be downloaded
free of charge from the LAC website: www.lac.org.na. Hard copies can be obtained from the LAC offices.

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 “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead

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