Swakopmund: Erongo Governor Neville Andre Itope has issued a strong call for united, data-driven action in the national fight against gender-based violence (GBV), warning that the ongoing crisis is tearing at the fabric of Namibian society. Itope was speaking at a high-level stakeholder meeting on enhancing the Gender-Based Violence Information Management System (GBVIMS) at Swakopmund on Tuesday. The event, coordinated by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), aimed to strengthen the country's GBV data ecosystem.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the GBVIMS is a structured tool that enhances the collection, storage, and analysis of GBV-related data, enabling coordinated responses among service providers, including health workers, law enforcement, and social services. Itope labelled the meeting as not only timely but urgently necessary, describing GBV as one of Namibia's most persistent and devastating human rights violations. "Gender-based violence cuts across ethnicity, religion, age, economic status, and geography. It is visible in our hospitals, courtrooms, schools, and tragically, our homes," he stated.

While acknowledging existing legal and policy frameworks, the governor stressed that GBV statistics represent not just numbers, but real survivors, broken communities, and lost dreams. He added that GBV is not solely the responsibility of the Ministry of Gender Equality but a cross-sectoral national issue. Under the theme 'Enhancing the GBVIMS', Itope called for the system's modernisation into a real-time, interoperable, secure, and survivor-centred national platform accessible to all relevant stakeholders.

Inspector General of the Namibian Police Force, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo echoed these concerns, noting that GBV not only violates human rights but also carries heavy socio-economic costs. He highlighted police efforts through Gender-Based Violence Protection units, though citing challenges such as staff shortages and weak internet connectivity in regions like Khomas, Omaheke, and Hardap.

NSA Statistician-General Alex Shimuafeni reaffirmed the agency's commitment to building a robust data infrastructure. "Despite progress, inaccurate and fragmented data undermine our response efforts," he said. The two-day meeting aims to develop a shared understanding of Namibia's GBV landscape, secure high-level support for the GBVIMS, and draft a roadmap for its enhancement.