Keetmanshoop, Namibia – Over 300 men from the ||Kharas Region gathered at the third Namibia national men’s conference in Keetmanshoop, themed ‘Zero male suicide, promoting positive masculinity.’ The event, held on Thursday, was organized by the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare.
According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), Royal |Ui|o|oo, the conference aimed to foster a culture of non-violence among men and encourage positive interactions. |Ui|o|oo emphasized the need for men to support each other in times of distress, advocating for a non-violent approach to conflict resolution. Statistics revealed at the conference showed that out of 623 reported suicides between August 2022 and June this year, 511 were men, accounting for 82%.
The conference’s goals included creating platforms for men to discuss gender-based violence (GBV) and gender equality issues, promoting male involvement in preventing GBV and HIV and AIDS, and advocating for safe motherhood and fatherhood initiatives. It also aimed to foster positive gender norms and change.
Ulrich Dawids, a farmer and conference attendee, praised the event as a vital platform for men to discuss their issues openly. He suggested that future conferences should be held in rural areas to engage more people. Another participant, Maurius Shikongo, highlighted the importance of the platform in educating men on emotional management, particularly in handling toxic relationships and financial pressures.
The conference also covered topics like perceived legal biases favoring women and girls in Namibia, challenges posed by the shift towards artificial intelligence, paternity issues, and the role of churches.