Afrigather Childhood is supposed to be a time of pleasure, progress, and growth, 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 in response to the 2019 Violence in opposition to Kids and Youth Survey.
Addressing violence in opposition to youngsters stays excessive the Namibian Authorities’s agenda. The Nation is one in all 38 international locations to changing into a Pathfinding nation committing to finish violence in opposition to youngsters. Along with a sturdy coverage and legislative framework on the safety of youngsters in opposition to violence and abuse, a Nationwide Plan of Motion 2022-2025 to stop and reply to violence in opposition to youngsters is in place. This multi-sectoral plan is aligned to the INSPIRE: Seven methods for ending violence in opposition to youngsters and units out the federal government intend to make houses, colleges, and communities safer for kids.
In demonstration of its dedication to finish violence in opposition to youngsters, the Ministry of Gender, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare (MGPESW) in partnership with the Ministry of Well being and Social Companies (MOHSS) with help from WHO, hosted an inaugural coaching of trainers on recognizing and responding to violence in opposition to youngsters and the administration of kid maltreatment.
The coaching for well being employees 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 supply first-line help to youngster survivors of violence. The agenda was structured to progressively construct experience, guaranteeing individuals are well-equipped to handle violence in opposition to youngsters of their skilled roles.
Talking on behalf of the WHO Officer-in-Cost, Dr Sirak Hailu, mentioned 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 in opposition to youngsters via 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 help to youngsters affected by violence and reiterated that the coaching will contribute to reaching this objective.
Talking on the identical event was the Director of Gender Equality and Baby Welfare, Mrs. Helena Andjamba, representing the Government Director of MGPESW. She re-emphasized Namibia’s dedication to finish violence in opposition to youngsters and mentioned that Namibia ratified the United Nations Conference on the Rights of the Baby in addition to the African Constitution on the rights and welfare of the kid. She mentioned 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 varied stakeholders together with those represented on the coaching workshop. She additional referred to the Baby Care and Safety Act which supplies 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 kids 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 in opposition to youngsters stipulating the roles and obligations of the related stakeholders. She acknowledged the help they acquired from UNICEF, US Authorities and World Fund to comprehend the federal government goal on the wellbeing of youngsters, and he or she additionally welcomed WHO for his or her further help in direction of the identical objective.
The coaching was attended by 37 individuals. These included 14 Medical Medical doctors, Nurses and Social Employees from the Ministry of Well being and Social Companies (MOHSS), 15 Social Employees, Senior Social Employees and Chief Social Employees 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 supply complete youngster safety providers.
