Legal Assistance Centre-Namibia

TACKLING VIOLENCE: A TIMELINE
GENDER RESEARCH & ADVOCACY PROJECT

Since 1998, GR&AP has focused on the epidemic of domestic violence in Namibia. Here is a sample of its activities over the years:

1998: The GR&AP produced a comparative law research paper entitled Domestic Violence: Proposals for Law Reform and a draft bill on domestic violence at the request of the Law Reform and Development Commission.

1999: The GR&AP produced the first edition of the Namibia Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Service Directory containing information on all the organizations in Namibia which assist survivors of domestic violence.

2000: The GR&AP worked together with the Legal Education Unit of the Legal Assistance Centre in 2000 to host a national conference for men on the topic of violence against women. This workshop was attended by 250 men from virtually all parts of Namibia, as well as by guest speakers from Zimbabwe, South Africa and Canada. The conference was successful in inspiring men in the various regions to begin work around the issue of violence against women, and it led to the formation of a national men's organization called Namibian Men for Change (NAMEC). Read the conference report.

2000: The GR&AP wrote a series of newspaper articles to popularize the findings of its research and hosted a workshop entitled "Domestic Violence Legislation: Lessons from South Africa" which brought experts from South Africa to Namibia to discuss success and failures with law reform on this topic which could be instructive to Namibia.

2001: The Law Reform & Development Commission (LRDC) published a draft bill on domestic violence. The report of the LRDC openly acknowledged the contribution of the GR&AP in the preparation of this bill, as well as the usefulness of some of its other work around violence.

2001: GR&AP launched a Domestic Violence Advocacy Campaign with several components. (1) Love and Respect, a series of five films on domestic violence in English, Afrikaans, Nama-Damara, Oshiwambo and Otjiherero; (2) a series of radio dramas on domestic violence in Afrikaans, Oshiwambo, Herero and Nama/Damara; (3) a website design contest where domestic violence was the content of the sites, involving some 32 schools around the country; and (4) murals about domestic violence painted by schoolchildren on public buildings in six locations in different parts of the country.

2004-5: The GR&AP worked with service providers to produce Guidelines on the Implementation of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act for police, social workers and counsellors, the medical profession, prosecutors, and magistrates. The GR&AP also produced an updated version of the Namibia Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Service Directory.

2005: GR&AP completed educational materials on the Combating of Domestic Violence Act in English, in the same format as the popular materials on rape: a detailed Guide to the Combating of Domestic Violence Act aimed at services providers and counselors, as well as a shorter Summary of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act for the general public.

2006: The educational material on domestic violence were translated into indigenous languages and disseminated widely through government and NGO networks and in workshops.

2007: The Ministry of Health and Social Services commissioned GR&AP to work together with two other local groups, PEACE Centre and Women’s Solidarity, to develop a training manual for community survivor supporters.