Childhood is supposed to be a time of pleasure, development, and improvement, free from violence, abuse, and exploitation. That is nevertheless not the case for over 39.6% of Namibian ladies and 45.0% of Namibian boys experiencing bodily, sexual, or emotional violence of their childhood based on the 2019 Violence towards Kids and Youth Survey.
Addressing violence towards youngsters stays excessive the Namibian Authorities’s agenda. The Nation is certainly one of 38 international locations to changing into a Pathfinding nation committing to finish violence towards youngsters. Along with a sturdy coverage and legislative framework on the safety of youngsters towards violence and abuse, a Nationwide Plan of Motion 2022-2025 to stop and reply to violence towards youngsters is in place. This multi-sectoral plan is aligned to the INSPIRE: Seven methods for ending violence towards youngsters and units out the federal government intend to make houses, faculties, and communities safer for youngsters.
In demonstration of its dedication to finish violence towards youngsters, the Ministry of Gender, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare (MGPESW) in partnership with the Ministry of Well being and Social Companies (MOHSS) with assist from WHO, hosted an inaugural coaching of trainers on recognizing and responding to violence towards youngsters and the administration of kid maltreatment.
The coaching for well being staff and social work professionals was delivered over three days, from 28-30 November 2023. and the workshop lined a complete agenda to equip individuals with the data and expertise wanted to offer first-line assist to little one survivors of violence. The agenda was structured to progressively construct experience, making certain individuals are well-equipped to deal with violence towards youngsters of their skilled roles.
Talking on behalf of the WHO Officer-in-Cost, Dr Sirak Hailu, stated that Namibia is among the many international locations operationalizing the suggestions of the most recent World Well being Meeting Resolutions emphasizing the necessity to finish violence towards youngsters by way of well being methods strengthening and multisectoral approaches. He commented the federal government on its Nationwide Plan of Motion (2021-2025) aimed to develop a complete and built-in response system to ship coordinated, high quality, and well timed assist to youngsters affected by violence and reiterated that the coaching will contribute to attaining this purpose.
Talking on the identical event was the Director of Gender Equality and Little one Welfare, Mrs. Helena Andjamba, representing the Government Director of MGPESW. She re-emphasized Namibia’s dedication to finish violence towards youngsters and stated that Namibia ratified the United Nations Conference on the Rights of the Little one in addition to the African Constitution on the rights and welfare of the kid. She stated that her Ministry is entrusted with the promotion of the kids’s rights within the nation and that they’ll’t do it alone as these rights are to be protected by numerous stakeholders together with those represented on the coaching workshop. She additional referred to the Little one Care and Safety Act which gives for the safety of all youngsters with the expectation of youngsters who in battle with the regulation. She talked about that the nation has a separate draft invoice for youngsters in battle with the regulation. The Act is supported by the Nationwide Agenda for Kids in addition to the Nationwide Plan of Motion to stop and reply to violence towards youngsters stipulating the roles and tasks of the related stakeholders. She acknowledged the assist they obtained from UNICEF, US Authorities and World Fund to appreciate the federal government goal on the wellbeing of youngsters, and she or he additionally welcomed WHO for his or her further assist in the direction of the identical purpose.
The coaching was attended by 37 individuals. These included 14 Medical Docs, Nurses and Social Staff from the Ministry of Well being and Social Companies (MOHSS), 15 Social Staff, Senior Social Staff and Chief Social Staff from the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare (MGEPESW), 6 individuals from NGOs (SOS, Lifeline, Mission Hope), and two individuals from the Namibian Police.
WHO is dedicated to supporting the federal government with the strengthening of methods together with the well being system to offer complete little one safety companies.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Well being Group (WHO) – Namibia.
