iii.
iv.
v.
vi.
vii.
viii.
ix.
x.
xi.
Establishment of a National Advisory Committee on GBV
composed of Cabinet ministers and chaired by the Minister of
Gender and Child Welfare which has helped to improve the
support services for survivors of GBV and also increased
awareness raising on GBV;
Increase in access to anti-retroviral drugs to 90% and prevention
of Mother to Child Transmission (PMCT) by 95% nationwide;
Setting up of an inter-ministerial committee consisting of the
Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Ministry of Gender and
Child Welfare and the Ministry of Safety and Security to
monitor reports on human trafficking and smuggling of
migrants in Namibia;
Development of an Action Plan in 2011 for five Government line
ministries namely, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare,
Ministry of Education, Ministry of Gender Equality and Child
Welfare and the Ministry of Safety and Security to co-operate to
eliminate child labour;
Creation of mobile clinics in all the regions which cater for the
communities including the indigenous women in the remote
rural areas;
Implementation of laws to give effect to the rights guaranteed
under the Charter notably, the provision for women to apply for
land rights in communal areas including the rights of widows to
inherit communal land allocated to their late husbands, even if
they remarry, and for women to be represented on the
communal land boards to monitor the implementation of the
Communal Land Reform Act of 2002 as well as the abolition of
marital power, which gave equal rights to men and women
during marriage and at its dissolution;
Recognition of women’s rights to legally entitled inherit from
their deceased husband’s estate through a will/last testament or
where there is community of property;
Recognition of women as traditional leaders, such as chiefs and
Councillors in their communities and participating in
Government decision making process as well as determining
cultural policies.
Special protection provided under section 62 of the Correctional
Service Act, to the infant of a female offender within a
correctional facility until the infant is two years, and thereafter
by a fit and proper person who is able and willing to support
such infant.
Right to Freedom of Expression and Access to Information
15. The Commission commends Namibia:
i.
On the appointment of a Media Ombudsman in 2013 by the media
fraternity;
6