Over 600 girls, 32 boys raped in 10 months
Statistics reveal that from August 2022 to June this year, a total of 759 gender-based violence (GBV) cases perpetrated against children under the age of 17 have been reported to the police nationwide.
Children have also been subjected to murder, kidnapping, malicious injury, attempted murder, assault, arson, abortion and abduction.
GBV is a common and recurring problem in Namibia, with daily crime reports littered with these incidents.
Child abuse rife
Minor children, who are frequently subjected to various forms of violence, are among the most susceptible victims of GBV.
Official statistics obtained by Namibian Sun from the Namibian police show that between August 2022 and June 2023, a total of 32 boys under the age of 17 were victims of rape, while girls accounted for the overwhelming majority - 660 – of rape cases reported during the same period.
In comparison, 767 children were victims of GBV crimes for the 2021-2022 year under review, with 577 of them reportedly raped.
During the reporting period 2020–2021, a total of 708 minors were victims of gender-based violence, with rape cases topping the crime charts at 564.
Terrified to speak up
The statistics also revealed that domestic violence is a contributing factor in reported rape cases, with 48 cases reported among boys and four reported among girls between August 2022 and June this year.
These statistics are only for cases formally reported to the police. Unreported cases can be higher, as commentators have frequently highlighted.
Members of the public are urged to report cases to the nearest police station to hold perpetrators accountable.
Protecting offenders
First Lady Monica Geingos, a staunch voice against child abuse, rape and other forms of domestic violence, once remarked: "The tragedy is that the real number of child rapes in Namibia is likely to be higher due to the perpetrator being protected by family and friends who either don’t believe the child, want to protect the family name, or don’t want to see the perpetrator jailed, particularly if the accused holds a position of influence or is the breadwinner. We have to pierce this veil of secrecy in order to reduce cases of sexual violence."
Child sexual abuse happens in places where children are supposed to be protected, often by someone they have been taught to trust and rely on, Geingos warned.
She observed that younger children and children with disabilities are at heightened risk because they are easily manipulated and will have difficulty testifying in court. "The vulnerability of children is amplified by their lack of agency."
Children have also been subjected to murder, kidnapping, malicious injury, attempted murder, assault, arson, abortion and abduction.
GBV is a common and recurring problem in Namibia, with daily crime reports littered with these incidents.
Child abuse rife
Minor children, who are frequently subjected to various forms of violence, are among the most susceptible victims of GBV.
Official statistics obtained by Namibian Sun from the Namibian police show that between August 2022 and June 2023, a total of 32 boys under the age of 17 were victims of rape, while girls accounted for the overwhelming majority - 660 – of rape cases reported during the same period.
In comparison, 767 children were victims of GBV crimes for the 2021-2022 year under review, with 577 of them reportedly raped.
During the reporting period 2020–2021, a total of 708 minors were victims of gender-based violence, with rape cases topping the crime charts at 564.
Terrified to speak up
The statistics also revealed that domestic violence is a contributing factor in reported rape cases, with 48 cases reported among boys and four reported among girls between August 2022 and June this year.
These statistics are only for cases formally reported to the police. Unreported cases can be higher, as commentators have frequently highlighted.
Members of the public are urged to report cases to the nearest police station to hold perpetrators accountable.
Protecting offenders
First Lady Monica Geingos, a staunch voice against child abuse, rape and other forms of domestic violence, once remarked: "The tragedy is that the real number of child rapes in Namibia is likely to be higher due to the perpetrator being protected by family and friends who either don’t believe the child, want to protect the family name, or don’t want to see the perpetrator jailed, particularly if the accused holds a position of influence or is the breadwinner. We have to pierce this veil of secrecy in order to reduce cases of sexual violence."
Child sexual abuse happens in places where children are supposed to be protected, often by someone they have been taught to trust and rely on, Geingos warned.
She observed that younger children and children with disabilities are at heightened risk because they are easily manipulated and will have difficulty testifying in court. "The vulnerability of children is amplified by their lack of agency."
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