Traditional Leaders and the prevention of Gender based violence in Namibia: A case of Outjo District Kunene Region

Abstract

Gender-based violence is a global problem affecting all gender of different races, creeds, and colours, especially women and girls. A similar trend is observed in Africa, where it is widely recognised that GBV affects humankind across the continent. In the case of Namibia, one-third (31%) of Namibian women involved with an intimate partner experienced physical or sexual violence caused by men. Therefore, the study locates that the fight toward eliminating gender-based violence will only be realised if all stakeholders come on board. This thesis provides an assessment of the role of traditional leaders in preventing gender-based violence in Kunene region, in particular, Outjo district, through secondary and primary research findings. Notably, the study emphasised on women and girls since they constitute the majority in terms of gender-based violence victimisation. The study approach was qualitative in nature with a case study research design. The data was collected through individual interviews with key informants and focus group discussions using the interview schedule guide. The study further employed thematic analysis to analyse data to present common themes that emerged from the research and were interpreted for broader illustration under the discussion section. The study found that awareness campaigns, traditional court services, education programmes on GBV through the police, faith-based organisations and women’s leadership centre and gender-based violence prevention policies were seen as the common prevention methods used for genderbased violence in Outjo. Gender-based violence awareness campaigns conducted during the community meetings and the existence of traditional court healings emerged as the most common preventative methods by which traditional leaders are involved in Outjo. Further, prevention, advisory and stakeholder engagement roles were perceived by stakeholders as significant components that traditional leaders play in gender-based violence matters. Noteworthy, the study recommends that to reduce GBV in Outjo, there is a need for traditional leaders to be more proactively involved in gender-based violence matters, accelerate gender-based violence awareness, the creation of police-traditional leader forums and an amendment to some customary laws that indirect and direct contributes to GBV.