Gender-based violence (GBV) in Namibia remains a pervasive issue, and Namdeb is doing its part to address it in the Oranjemund community.
On Wednesday, 25 September 2024, Namdeb hosted a GBV Pathways to Care Workshop in Oranjemund that brought together key stakeholders in the fight against GBV namely, the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Health and Social Services, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security (Nampol GBV Protection Division).
Namdeb staff members from various departments like the hospital, Wellness, HR and social performance were also in attendance, as well as the local schools, civil society organis ations, private health clinics, the Rosh Pinah Town Management and local business partners.
The workshop was aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the nature and scale of GBV in the //Kharas Region, particularly Oranjemund, and to identify and map existing services and gaps across the GBV support ecosystem for survivors, perpetrators and bystanders.
It also sought to develop a roadmap for interventions to strengthen the overall multi-sectoral referral pathway.
“We recognize that our employees, business partners and their families are not just part of our workforce, but also part of the fabric of the Oranjemund community,” said Pauline Thomas, Namdeb Head of Corporate Affairs and Sustainable Impact.
“As such, we have a profound responsibility to raise awareness and provide education on GBV, ensuring that everyone feels safe and supported.”
Thomas further highlighted the challenges of accessing healthcare and support services as a remote town, which often requires cases to be referred to Lüderitz, which can leave survivors feeling isolated and vulnerable, hence the need for coordinated efforts.
The workshop saw participants introduced to practical case studies tailored to Oranjemund, to explore various service gaps and opportunities for improvement, covering topics such as causes of GBV, the current state of GBV in the //Kharas Region, barriers to GBV reporting, lack of data, limited resources and the importance of strengthening stakeholder collaboration.
Workshop facilitator, founder and Executive Director of Regain Trust, James Itana, guided the discussions.
“Despite the overwhelming challenges of gender-based violence in our communities, every step toward awareness, collaboration, and action brings us closer to a society where safety and equality prevail,” Itana said.
“Together, we can dismantle the harmful norms and practices that perpetuate violence, creating pathways of care and hope for all.”
Itana has made significant contributions to Namibia’s policy participating in the revision of the National Gender Policy (2010-2020), contributing to the development of the National Plan of Action on GBV, and playing a key role in establishing a National Coordination Mechanism on Gender.
“Namdeb remains committed to its purpose of Mining for Good, and the heartfelt effort of the workshop to bring together all the stakeholders involved in the referral process through awareness and training on GBV to enable a thriving community, is an example of that commitment,” emphasized Thomas.
In the photo: Facilitator, James Itana, guiding case study discussions at the workshop; and attendees at the workshop.
