Ashley Nyambe
THERE is currently no national policy or strategic document that specifically deals with online gender-based violence (OGBV), which is concerning as OGBV can worsen the already alarmingly high rates of gender-based violence (GBV) in the country.
This was highlighted by a report that the Minister of Justice, Yvonne Dausab, recently launched, entitled “Understanding Online Gender-Based Violence in Southern Africa”.
The report, which examines the prevalence and impact of OGBV and GBV in Southern Africa, was compiled by researchers from Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa.
“There is no national policy or strategic document that specifically deals with online gender-based violence and harassment. Even the 2010 National Gender Policy does not explicitly focus on ICT-enabled violence. The policy is also silent on how ICTs can be harnessed in the fight against gender inequalities in Namibia. Moreover, there are no clearly set targets for using ICTs to empower women,” the report reads.
The report also pointed out that Namibia generally has a progressive policy and legislative framework when it comes to ensuring gender equality.
However, despite these provisions, GBV has reached alarming levels in the country. This is evidenced by the frequent GBV incidents that are reported on a weekly basis. For example, on Thursday morning alone, the police reported that two women were brutally murdered.
One of these incidents took place at about 9:00 in the Okambonde village in the Oshikoto region, where the deceased, Ester Nashiningwe Haimbondi (44) is suspected to have been murdered by her boyfriend.
In the other incident, an unidentified woman was stabbed to death in Katutura, where her wounded body was left in a bush behind the Hosianna Parish Church. A witness claims that he saw four men following her and he believes that they may have murdered her as well.
Given the prevalence and close connection between OGBV and GBV, the report, therefore, emphasised the urgency of finding a way to regulate OGBV in the country, cautioning that “should this situation be left unattended, it could set back the progress attained in promoting gender equality. It could also reproduce offline GBV which has significantly affected the life chances of women and girls in Namibia”.
Dausab also emphasised the urgency of the issue and explained that OGBV – which can take the form of public shaming, doxing, online harassment, cyberstalking and intimidation – is real violence and should be considered a serious human rights challenge.
According to Dausab, the ministry is working towards the implementation of a government-wide action plan against GBV. This, she explained, includes amendments to the Combatting of Rape Act, the establishment of separate courts for GBV and the creation of a GBV programme in schools.
“We are also currently working on a Bill to address cybercrimes. It will create a new offence for online communications that make credible threats of violence, intend to cause serious emotional distress, make a false statement intended to harm the reputation of another person, makes explicit sexual suggestions, or contains any explicit photos of a person without their consent. These acts will be subject to a fine of up to $10 000 or imprisonment for up to 2 years,” she added.
File photo for illustrative purposes only.
