(complainants) after they have filed charges continue to hamper investigations and
prosecutions.
The Zero Tolerance Media Campaign on Gender Based Violence including Human
Trafficking has been strengthened and extended. The campaign focuses on three
areas: “passion killing”/killing of spouse or partner, baby dumping and human
trafficking. Media materials have been developed on these issues. For example,
radio drama series are being aired on the national radio, pamphlets, posters,
billboards, television adverts and newspaper adverts.
In 2012, workshops were conducted in all the regions in an attempt to identify
some of the root causes of GBV. The aim of the workshops was to empower the
communities to take a stand against GBV through public education. The
Government, through the Ministry of Health and Social Services, in collaboration
with the Ministry of Justice (magistrates’ courts) also developed guidelines to assist
social workers to render therapeutic services to perpetrators of domestic violence.
v. Accelerate action to finalize the draft Bill on the criminalization of torture,
and enact same into law as soon as possible;
IN RESPONSE
Progress has been made pursuant to the Committee’s advice that Namibia to
criminalize torture as a specific crime through legislation in order to supplement
constitutional provisions. The Bill has not yet been finalized and is still with the
Law Reform and Development Commission (LRDC). Consultations on final draft are
ongoing and the LRDC will engage a specialist drafter to finalize the Bill.
vi. Extend human rights training to all judicial, defence and correctional
services officers and include in such training, the principles enunciated in the
Guidelines and Measures on the Prohibition and Prevention of Torture, Cruel,
Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment in Africa.
IN RESPONSE
Namibia welcomes this recommendation and already shared this recommendation
with relevant stakeholders such as University of Namibia’s Human Rights
Documentation Centre (HRDC), Polytechnic of Namibia and Legal Assistance Centre
(LAC) who play important roles in compiling training manuals on human rights for
law enforcement officers. The Ombudsman has been involved in human rights
training on invitation from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration as well as
Ministry of Safety and Security.
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