Gender violence robbing country of voters - Sioka

Gender-based violence is robbing political parties of their voters. This is according to Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare Doreen Sioka. She urged political parties to use this year’s local authority election speeches to address gender-based violence. “The people who are dying are our voters. It is disheartening to learn that 28% of Namibian women still believe that it is okay to be beaten by your spouse for simple reasons such as burning food,” said Sioka. She also urged local clergy and faith-based organisations to make gender-based violence a prominent agenda point within the communities they serve. “My ministry will work with the relevant authorities to ensure the amendment of pieces of legislation dealing with bail and parole to allow for stiffer requirements for perpetrators of gender-based violence,” she said. Sioka condemned the latest killings of women by their police officer partners, saying it is of national concern that those entrusted with the lives of citizens are the very ones that kill women. She emphasised that the same approach used to fight HIV/Aids must be applied to gender-based violence. Sioka also lamented the shortage of safehouses for women and children, saying that there is a need for government to ensure the protection of survivors. “Also the recommendations of increasing the number of social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists that was made at last year’s GBV conference, needs to be taken forward seriously,” she urged. She commended government for its progress in ensuring gender parity within political structures, but said however, that much still needs to be done to ensure equal representation at State-owned enterprises and in the private sector. “I would like to engage with the relevant institutions to ensure that the electoral law is amended to make provision for 50/50 equal representation, as well as the zebra-styling of political parties,” said Sioka. She further said she wants to see ministerial staff and stakeholders trained on the provisions of the newly passed Child Care and Protection Act, and urged her staff to closely monitor the management of the N$250 child welfare grants and to report cases of abuse to regional offices. WINDHOEK JEMIMA BEUKES