Thousands join silent protest against GBV
Remember their names
Thousands of Namibians, including men, women, and children, took part in a 15-minute silent lie-down on Friday in a visible and meaningful protest against gender-based violence (GBV).
From 12:00 to 12:15, citizens dressed in black across all 14 regions lay in silence on streets, in offices, on school grounds and in public spaces.
The 15-minute protest was a call for the government to declare gender-based violence and femicide a national disaster.
It also aimed to reflect the voicelessness of survivors and to pressure authorities to officially recognise GBV as a national crisis.
In Windhoek, following the 15-minute lie-down protest, a key moment came when the names of some of the many victims were read aloud. Among those whose names broke the silence were Ingrid Maasdorp, Rosalind Fabian, and Juanita Karolus. For many participants, the moment made it clear that these young girls and women are not just statistics; it was a reminder that behind every incident lies a life and a family affected by loss.
The organiser of the Windhoek event explained that the action was meant to be more than symbolic. She shared an excerpt from her message to girls and women living daily under unseen stress: "This is for the girls who pray that things will work out just once, for the girls with secrets they cannot share with anyone, for the girls who continue to hope and pray even when it feels as if no one is listening."
The message resonated with the crowd because it was not dramatic, but simply acknowledged the reality that many women and girls in Namibia face every day.
Growing outcry
Several participants explained after the event why they felt it was important to take part. Some said they wanted to show support for survivors, while others emphasised that the silence was a way to signal that the country and those in power can no longer look away or ignore the crisis.
For many, the 15 minutes of silence was not a political statement but a personal one – a way to stand up against a growing crisis affecting communities, families and young people across the world.
According to the organisers, the strong turnout indicates that communities are willing to engage in sustainable solutions. They stressed that the protest movement was not just a one-off action but the beginning of a broader, nationwide effort to raise awareness, promote structural change and encourage dialogue between citizens, schools, institutions and policymakers.
From 12:00 to 12:15, citizens dressed in black across all 14 regions lay in silence on streets, in offices, on school grounds and in public spaces.
The 15-minute protest was a call for the government to declare gender-based violence and femicide a national disaster.
It also aimed to reflect the voicelessness of survivors and to pressure authorities to officially recognise GBV as a national crisis.
In Windhoek, following the 15-minute lie-down protest, a key moment came when the names of some of the many victims were read aloud. Among those whose names broke the silence were Ingrid Maasdorp, Rosalind Fabian, and Juanita Karolus. For many participants, the moment made it clear that these young girls and women are not just statistics; it was a reminder that behind every incident lies a life and a family affected by loss.
The organiser of the Windhoek event explained that the action was meant to be more than symbolic. She shared an excerpt from her message to girls and women living daily under unseen stress: "This is for the girls who pray that things will work out just once, for the girls with secrets they cannot share with anyone, for the girls who continue to hope and pray even when it feels as if no one is listening."
The message resonated with the crowd because it was not dramatic, but simply acknowledged the reality that many women and girls in Namibia face every day.
Growing outcry
Several participants explained after the event why they felt it was important to take part. Some said they wanted to show support for survivors, while others emphasised that the silence was a way to signal that the country and those in power can no longer look away or ignore the crisis.
For many, the 15 minutes of silence was not a political statement but a personal one – a way to stand up against a growing crisis affecting communities, families and young people across the world.
According to the organisers, the strong turnout indicates that communities are willing to engage in sustainable solutions. They stressed that the protest movement was not just a one-off action but the beginning of a broader, nationwide effort to raise awareness, promote structural change and encourage dialogue between citizens, schools, institutions and policymakers.
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