Namibia, Land of Child Abusers

BEAUTY BOOISTHE LEVELS at which children in Namibia are abused, violated, dehumanised and neglected are highly disturbing. Violence against children in Namibia ranges from the emotional, physical, verbal to sexual, as well as negligent behaviour, on the part of parents, family members, teachers or caregivers.

The very people placed in positions to care for and nurture children, those who should be responsible for their well-being, are among those perpetuating the most violence against them in those places and spaces where children should feel most safe – their homes, their schools and their communities. 

Time and time again, numerous cases of child abuse continue to be made public in Namibia. From the 74-year-old grandmother who allegedly burned her grandson’s hands, to child pornography involving the rape and sexual abuse of eight boys, to a viral video which showed a father admitting to beating his daughter with a belt, as well as holding her head under a tap of running water; to the thousands of cases that go unreported, as many children are not aware of, or haven’t been made aware of, their rights. Or often because of the fear that abused children have of the people who abuse them.

What is equally shocking about child abuse in Namibia is the level of justification among not only the perpetrators, but bystanders and the general public, who seem to want to normalise this abuse. 

The violence, abuse and neglect of Namibian children are often done under the guise of ‘discipline’. The objective is to beat children into ‘respecting their elders’, or authority figures. However, as stated by Unicef, “no matter their story or circumstances, all children have the right to be protected from violence, exploitation and abuse”.

Furthermore, child abuse often has an adverse behavioural, emotional and developmental effect on the child, some of which can follow a child well into adulthood. 

A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics revealed that emotional instability, depression, and a tendency to be aggressive or violent with others are some of the behavioural and emotional consequences of child abuse. 

The study also indicated that children who suffer from the traumatic affects of abuse, including seperation and loss, both physical and sexual abuse, parental/caregiver neglect as well as children who witness violence, might experience lingering symptons of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or difficulties with sleep, anxiety, oppositional behaviour, violent behaviour and even school failure.

Although the Namibian Child Care and Protection Act 3 of 2015, which came into effect in 2019 is simply not enough. Law reform needs to be accompanied by public awareness campaigns and sensitisation workshops that will facilitate a change in public beliefs and attitudes towards child abuse, which not only enables it but allows it to thrive. 

Behavioural communication strategies could also be used to effect change among parents, teachers and caregivers. The implementation of life skills that emphasises children’s rights, as well as overall human rights, should also be prioritised to empower children to understand their rights. They need to be made aware of bodily autonomy and bodily integrity, and to be taught about the help and support available to them. 

To nurture a healthy nation that does not continue to beget violence at all levels of society, Namibians need to work collaboratively to create a nurturing and caring environment for some of the most vulnerable groups of people within society. This is how we start the transformative healing work of changing Namibia from the Land of Child Abusers to the Land of Child Nurturers, a place where children not only survive but also thrive in a loving and peaceful country.